Would you take a contraceptive via a computer chip implanted under your skin? What if I told you hormone injections are controlled by remote control, and can last up to 16 years?
If the prospect seems like far-off science fiction, think again. This birth control technology may be available as early as 2018.
According to an article in the BBC, the chip originated in Massachusetts and has the backing of Bill Gates, no less.
The chip, which is currently being submitted to pre-clinical testing, may be available at a competitive price in a few years.
The implanted chip releases a low dose of levonorgestrel via a wireless remote control. The beauty (and potential snag)—the chip could be deactivated at the push of a button, which is great news for women wanting to start a family.
Bad news for those at all worried about hacking. Developers claim the chip is blessed with secure encryption, which means "someone across the room cannot re-programme your implant."
The microchip, friends, is the future of pharmaceuticals.
Cool or creepy?
Well, let's hope the chip proves safer than this.
DC Entertainment has refused to give permission for a Superman logo to appear on a memorial statue of Jeffrey Baldwin, who died at the hands of abusive family members.
According to an article in the CBC, the five-year-old Toronto boy worshipped at the altar of Superman. Todd Boyce, an Ottawa man, moved by Jeffrey's tragic death, raised funds to create a bronze statue of the boy in his Superman costume.
Unfortunately, DC Entertainment refused to give Boyce rights to use their superhero's logo.
"Basically they didn't want to have the character of Superman associated with child abuse," said Boyce. "They weren't comfortable with that."
Though Boyce understands DC's stance, he was disappointed because Superman was featured so prominently in Jeffrey's young life.
"[I] realized that the most important thing is to have a fitting monument for Jeffrey, that it's about him," said Boyce. "To be fair to DC I don't think they wanted to say no. I think they gave it serious thought."
The design has been modified to include a J—rather than an S—on the statue's chest.
In 2006, Jeffrey's grandparents, then his legally appointed guardians, were found guilty of second-degree murder after letting the boy waste away. He died in 2002, weeks before his sixth birthday.
An inscription on a memorial bench will read: "I wish heaven had a phone so I could hear your voice again."
Pending bronzing, the memorial may be unveiled in September.
An entire city rallied together to turn this boy into a superhero for a day.
The mom/photographer who posted a re-creation of the classic Coppertone beach ad of her 'cheeky' toddler has cause to celebrate after Facebook agreed to reinstate her account.
According to an article in the CBC, Jill White paid homage to the sunscreen ad in which a dog playfully tugs at a little girl's bathing suit, exposing her bum.
"I posted [the photo] on Coppertone's [Facebook page]," said White. "We thought it would be cute because of the old Coppertone ad and her tan line looked like that."
But then, in the year 2014, such a photo is no longer regarded as cute or innocent by social media standards. Facebook ultimately revoked White's account for 24 hours. She was apparently given three options by the site—delete the photo, change her privacy settings, or ignore the warning.
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