Scientists never run out of things to do with mice.

I wonder what their inspiration is.

*thinks*

Ah! It's Money.

200 years from now, someone somewhere will be "testing" Ecstasy on Barn Owls in order to "work out" what role MDMA can play in preventing/curing Diabetes/Insomnia/Obesity.

My fat chums: obesity is caused by eating too much crap food.

Diabetes was once a rare disease. Mysterious.

Anyone know why European take up of mobiles is higher than America? And why Americans don't txt as much?

The sad thing is that no matter how many times these idiots get "busted" it never stops them.

The religious right, The Talk Radio morons, the "concerned" parents, the preachers and moral guardians, the tabloid journalists:

time and time and time again they are shown to be liars, hypocrites, fantasists, alarmists, anti-rationalists...

But they never stop.

We debunk them. We parody them. We prove them wrong on virtually every "hot button" issue.

But they don't care. They are fighting "culture wars" even though we've pwned them relentlessly, over and over again.

GTA5 and they will all come out of the woodwork again.

"C'mon people. Lab meat? You just know that it will taste like something from your elementary school cafeteria. Probably not even that good."

Sometime in the future...Stick it in a bun with some pickle and sauces and it'll be not much different to a beef burger :).

Shove it in nuggets, etc.

"but is it ethical for people to treat animals in such a way that they become useless and as a result certain types of animals dissapear forever."

Well, I'd rather there were no bears in China than the nightmareish bear farms that exist there, for example.

As a vegan I have no problem with "lab meat".

I'm vegan because I don't want to support animal suffering, as much as it's possible to live without it.

Obviously, "lab meat" doesn't suffer in the same way as ,say, a factory famred pig. So , for me, it's a more ethical choice just as organic meat is more ethical than factory farmed meat (in general, pedantic arguments and senseless debates aside).

@BMA

"Could someone explain exactly how GTA is "satire"? Satire is, by definition, using humour, sarcasm, or irony to criticise something -"

Visit the official GTA website.

See how every little thing is a joke? A parody? A pun?

Listen to the right wing radio or tv shows.

GTA4 is the funniest video game yet created.

Yes, it's funnier than the Monkey Island series.

@Jack

"I already aired my dismay that Boing Boing is helping to promote this overhyped game"

GTA4 is part of geek/pop culture. Why wouldn't it get a mention on Boing Boing?

"but geez louise, so nobody can say ANYTHING critical about hyper-violent and overly sexual games "

Erm, yes, obviously they do. See: The Clintons, Jack Thompson, Bloggers, Journalists et al.

"like GTA that are clearly marketed to teens?"

GTA is for over 18s. It's marketing is not "clearly" aimed at teens.

"Sorry but you know there is something amiss when people can't call crud for crud. "

It's crud in your opinion. Edge magazine, amongst others, gave it ten out of ten.

"And what is AMAZING about the current GTA release is how much they are couching what they do as being "satirical". How many new blurbs and reports repeat that "This is a satire..." mantra?"

That's not amazing at all the satirical content is quite clearly there.

"This isn't satire."

In your opinion

"This is a mass-marketed misogynist game that is specifically targeted towards teens no matter what Rockstar's company line is. "

In your opinion. And you don't work at Rockstar so it's your word against theirs. I choose theirs as I think you are an unrealiable witness.

"They know their market."
Yes.

"And it's amazing how many people are drinking the proverbial Kool Aid."

Popular game appeals to lots of gamers. Kool Aid doesn't come into it.

"Anyone remember when video games weren't all based on sociopathic murder fantasies?"

Yes. That would be right now. This very moment.