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DNA Blueprints Guide The Construction Of Specific Human Structures
Chad Mirkin discusses using DNA to build a three-dimensional structure out of gold, likening the process to building a house. Starting with basic materials such as bricks, wood, siding, stone and shingles, a construction team can build many different types of houses out of the same building blocks.
The article includes an audio recording of the full interview. Photo courtesy of the UCSD School of Medicine.
| Lisa Jain and Her Magic Wand |
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| Opinion - Global Warning | |||
| Lisa Jain Thompson | |||
| Tuesday, 18 November 2008 21:00 | |||
 Fairfax, VA, USA. I’ve had my Magic Wand for over a decade, predating my surgery by a number of years. It is loud, powerful, and effective. And set on high, the Hitachi Magic Wand provides an exciting ride. For some reason, over time the internal wiring works its way loose (perhaps I am too enthusiastic) and over the years I have taken my Wand apart and repaired it twice.Although the Magic Wand still provides perfectly good orgasms, it is only a matter of time before it wears out once and for all. If nothing else, it seems to be getting steadily noisier (something I would not think possible when I first bought it). I decided it was time to buy a replacement.
Unfortunately, you can’t test drive — how to put this delicately — a sexual toy before you make a purchase (well, if there are places you can try one on (in? over?), they aren’t the type of place I would chose to shop). Who wants to use a second hand dildo, even it was only used on Saturdays by your grandmother and sparingly at that? [N1]
There are numerous well managed sources of sexual toys on the internet, but I tend to limit myself to two women run companies of long standing reputation [N4]:
In addition to selling high quality “toys”, both companies provide informative advice on such subjects as How to Use a Vibrator and How to Find Your G-Spot. Neither web site is for the sexual timid or the easily offended.
So I surfed both sites thoroughly. Luxury Vibrators (US$200.00 for a vibrator? I must be in the wrong pew), Bestselling Vibrators, Slimline Battery Vibrators, Rabbit Style Vibrators (!), Couples Vibrators (twice the fun), First-time Vibrators (everybody’s got to start someplace), Electric Vibrators, Mini-Vibrators (that can discretely hide in your purse), G-Spot Vibrators, Waterproof Vibrators, Bullet Vibrators (what and where do you want to vibrate?), and Discrete Vibrators (looking like a lipstick or a bath toy [N6]. Don’t forget the batteries.
Thank heavens for the guide to choosing a vibrator and the user comments (not to mention the demonstration videos). A girl could get lost in here. [N7]
There is even a Zagat Survey. [N8]
After some trepidation I settled on a LAYAspot vibrator manufactured by the Fun Factory [N9]
 Pink.Soft to the touch.
Waterproof.
Easy to clean.
Relatively quiet.
Multiple speeds and rhythms. Powered by two AAA batteries. Discrete. You can leave it lying around in the open.
Most of all, it works. I’ve road tested it.
Fun Factory (www.funfactory.de) is located in Bremen, Germany. From the box the LAYAspot came in, they think very highly of themselves as the manufacturer of innovative vibrators that massage and stimulate every erogenous spot on the body, that are multi-functional and intense, modern design, revolutionary engineering and high quality.
They said that in four different languages (German, Spanish, French, and English) [N10] — which leads me to the instructions. The section I could read fluently was headed Englisch in bold face red type.
Under application and function, the instructions told me to place the LAYAspot on the required part of the body. Apparently they didn’t know the English for clitoris. [N11]
The instructions said that LAYAspot is made of Elstomed: skin friendly, odorless, extremely durable and easy to clean. [N12] If you can’t get a carbon based, self-retracting dildo, use Elstomed instead.
There were two cautions:
I don’t know if the François and the Español are translated with the same flair as the Englisch. As normal, the Deutsch instructions were twice as long as the Englisch, perhaps unconsciously compensating for some German deficiency they are uncomfortable discussing in public.
The electrically powered vibrator was invented in the 1880s to treat what was then called congestion of the genitalia and female hysteria. I imagine that once word got around, there was a lot of congested genitalia that needed regular treatment to keep hysteria at bay.
Batteries, obviously, set us free from the contraints that The Man imposed on women with his patriarchal electricity delivery system. Suddenly bathtubs became targets of opportunity. Hot tubs soon followed.
Personally I am looking forward to the fusion powered vibrator. I hate it when the batteries go dead after four or five hours. Fusion power should last at least a weekend. It all depends on your chosen setting, of course. If you’re the sort who plans on having your vibrator shake your bed or twirl your partner around on top of you, you might need to keep a spare fusion reactor handy.
DisclaimerAll mentions of commercial products are incidental to the narrative flow and do not imply endorsement by TS-Si or TS-Si.org,without regard to any satisfaction derived therefrom.
Notes[N1] Don’t ewwwww me. I could have written that it was only used by your eighth grade nun after church on Sunday.
[N2] Your mileage may vary. My surgeon was Toby Meltzer in Scottsdale Arizona. [N3] Makes no never mind if the lover in question is male or female. Lover is a good thing. [N4] You must be 18 years of age to enter either Babeland or Good Vibrations. [N5] Nine out of ten dildos prefer Astroglide®. [N6] Bright Yellow Rubber Ducky anyone? [N7] Which is better than a vibrator getting lost in … never mind. Use your imagination. [N8] Rate your toy or your orgasm, your choice. [N9] Fun Factory slogan is love yourself! . [N10] Sex is international, or haven’t you heard? [N11] Or maybe they didn’t know the Latin repressed American Intellectuals use for a clit. [N12] If you can find a guy with these characteristics, he’s a keeper. [N13] Unless the eleven year old boy is Sicilian, of course, then all bets are off. [N14] Although, no matter what the size, if the guy could shimmy like the LAYAspot can shimmy, you might have to reconsider.  Ms. Lisa Jain Thompson is the Co-Founder & President of TS-Si, Inc. She also serves as a Contributing Editor and columnist for the TS-Si website. Ms. Thompson's signed articles contain her own opinions and do not necessarily convey an official position of TS-Si, its partners, or affiliates. Lisa welcomes your comments. You can use the public form below or send private correspondence via her TS-Si Contact Page. We will not divulge any personal details or place you on a mailing list without your permission.
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| Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 November 2008 22:11 |
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