Pluripotent Stem Cells? Oh, Yeah

For my Breakthroughs in Science class, one of the work products is a position paper on a controversial area of scientific research. The professor assigned the topics, and also whether we had to argue "pro" or "con."

I was assigned the "pro" position on fetal stem cell harvesting and research, so I've been reading about the issue.

I have long been a proponent of stem cell research. I have no issue with using donated or abandoned zygotes or embryos for this purpose, and my research is reinforcing that position rather than weakening it. Now I just have more facts at my disposal to defend my view. Learning to actually understand the differences between totipotent, pluripotent and multipotent stem cells has given me a much clearer view of the scientific issues inherent in the debate.

Given my own views regarding abortion and when life begins, it was extremely unlikely that I would suddenly decide that harvesting embryonic stem cells from donated or abandoned embryos was somehow immoral or unethical. While I think you might be able to make a case that creating an embryo for the sole purpose of harvesting its pluripotent stem cells is a little shady, I just can't see the issue with using the ones that are already there.

Of course, since many of the arguments used to oppose this practice are religious ones, it's extremely unlikely that any of them will carry any weight with me whatsoever. Another student has been assigned the "con" position, and our final assignment, to take place in three weeks, is an on-line debate using the arguments, evidence and ethical justifications we researched for this assignment. I'm rather looking forward to it, and I hope my "partner" ends up being a worthy adversary. If she ends up discussing "SIN" I am going to be sorely disappointed.

'Tard of the Week - Joe Lieberman

This week's 'tard is none other than that attention seeking, whiplash inducing eight dollar 'ho, Joe Lieberman. Unless you live under a rock, you know that Jumping Joe has threatened to filibuster/veto/torpedo the health care reform bill due to Harry Reid's inclusion of a public option.

Here's the part that once again exposes Joe for the incredible fucking hypocrite that he is: Lieberman was in favor of a public option for years and years, and now that Olympia Snowe is the Belle of the Ball instead of him, well clearly the public option IS EVIL AND MUST BE DESTROYED. As long as destroying it makes him the center of attention for the foreseeable future, that is. Once the media's Eye of Sauron moves away from HIS RIGHTEOUS STAND OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, then I'm quite sure he'll find something else to grandstand about.

Seriously, Connecticut - can't you find someone a little less offensive to represent you? Anyone? Say, someone who gives a good goddamn about what his or her constituents actually want? Perhaps you could convince Saqib Ali to move...

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In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that I support a public option (along with 55% of the rest of America). And I love Stephen Colbert, lifetime member of my celebrity seraglio. "Stick to your principles, Joe, and as soon as you can, let us know what those are."

::swoon::

Boogie Blogging Friday

Boogie's feeling a bit better today. His sedation has worn off, so he's a bit steadier on his feet, and he's stopped keeping what's left of his tail tucked. He's still on pain medication, though, so he's whining a lot and wandering around the house looking lost.

You can see the incision on his neck. His vet used staples, I assume because the skin gets pulled in so many directions during normal activity. He goes back in 10-14 days to have those removed. I hope they're less painful to remove than mine were when I had my C-section, 'cause damn.

I'm just happy he came through with his usual proclivity for fast healing and a desire to continue with his normal activities. He was quite miffed this morning when I did not reach for his leash for our daily walk, although he wasn't nearly as disappointed as he's been in the past when he was constrained. The price of getting older, I guess.

Feeling Puny

Soft

Today is the day of the Incomparable Boogie's™ surgery. I dropped him off at the animal hospital first thing this morning, and his vet's assistant called a few minutes ago to let me know they were done with the surgery.

The surgery wasn't very complex - he had a soft benign tumor removed from his neck before it gets large enough to require a general anesthesia. As it is, it was removed with a sedative and a local. Since Boogie is a very large dog, and will be eight years old next month, a general really isn't a good idea at this stage of his life. So it was sedation and a local.

I was very anxious while I was waiting on the status report. Hell, I'm always anxious when I think Boogie's health is in jeopardy. Because I am so soft for that silly dog I can't even believe it.

Boogie is a family dog, to be sure. He loves the Smart Man and the Smart Twins, and they love him. Training him was a group effort, and caring for him is, too. Boogie loves his temporary caregivers - his Hot Grandma and his Hot Auntie Anne and his Smart Uncle Dale.

But in my heart, Boogie is my dog. I've worked from home either several days a week or full time his entire life, and we spend each and every day together. We go for walkies every morning. He keeps me company. He makes me laugh. He encourages me to take a break and play. He distracts me when I want to hit someone in the face with a shovel. He keeps my blood pressure down.

I love my Boogie-Dog more than I thought I could love a pet. Of course, I've never had a pet with whom I spent so much time, so I have nothing to compare it to.

If the Smart Man predeceases me, I shall be a "dog lady" rather than a "cat lady." If I can stand to even get another dog after Boogie, that is. I think the recent death of a friend's dear pet and Boogie's surgery has made me maudlin.
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Updated 10/29/2009 12:46 p.m.: Boogie's home and resting comfortably. He's still a bit groggy, and his back legs are none too steady, but he had a few bites of kibble and a small drink and is napping his way to recovery.

I Suck

Here we are again, folks - it's after 2:30 in the afternoon, and again I have nothing to write about other than generalized whining about work. Aside from the fact that such bitching and moaning gets old after awhile, I choose not to use this venue for that purpose. Somehow I doubt someone's going to pay me a kabillion dollars for my modest blog if I get fired, so in this case, discretion is the better part of valor.

So I'm stuck with that old standby -talking about the weather.

To the left is the view from our basement door. It's been snowing pretty steadily since last night, although it's a light snow. Most of the schools are doing short days today (because really, how can we possibly expect our staff and students to remember what to do during snowfall? That's just crazy talk.).


And here's the Incomparable Boogie™, starting to get quite insistent about coming back in the house after he accompanied me outside for picture taking. He still loves to go out and play in the snow, but he's starting to think active snowfall is not really his cup of tea, thank you very much. He has to start fasting at 8:00 p.m. this evening in preparation for his surgery tomorrow. Wish him luck.

Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History, Volume XXVI

This is Dr. Marci Bowers. She's an obstetrical surgeon who practices out of Seattle, Washington, and Trinidad, Colorado. She's one of the leading gender reassignment surgeons in the United States, and underwent the procedure herself eleven years ago.

She's also recently learned to perform a procedure called "clitoralplasty," or "female circumcision reversal." This procedure allows the victims of female genital mutilation to have the violence done to their bodies repaired in both functional and cosmetic ways, relieving them of the pain and scar tissue associated with this horrific practice.

Dr. Bowers waives her fee for these procedures, and the hospital where she practices caps their fees at $1,700.00 because the procedure is so new most insurance companies won't pay. Surgeons who perform this procedure frequently receive death threats from radical Muslims. When asked if she was afraid, Dr. Bowers replied, "I've jumped through enough fires and over enough barbed-wire fences in my life by now. I do not fear for my safety."

Well done, Dr. Bowers. Well done, indeed.