the only treat i find more mouthwatering than bacon is chocolate. and in my quest to try all things chocolate, you'll never believe what a delectable little morsel i just stumbled across. now, who-woulda-think-it? chocolate diamonds! oh, yes. delightful, delish, and darling -- and not one dreaded carb! i'm convinced that chocolate diamonds should be on every woman's wishlist. now if i could just convince smockdaddy. . .
shamelessly lifted from the family research council.
Two prominent embryonic stem cell scientists today published results showing that they can produce cells with the qualities of embryonic stem cells directly from human skin cells, without the need for creating or destroying embryos, without cloning, and without the need for eggs used in cloning. The groundbreaking news by Dr. James Thomson, first to grow human embryonic stem cells, and Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, Japan, was that they produced what are called "iPS" cells (induced Pluripotent Stem cells) using a simple recipe that involved adding four genetic factors to a human skin cell. When comparing these new cells with existing embryonic stem cells, Thomson noted that iPS cells "meet the defining criteria" for embryonic stem cells "with the significant exception that the iPS cells are not derived from embryos." Yamanaka and Thomson are to be congratulated for pushing forward the frontiers of science and demonstrating that good science can also satisfy ethical requirements. Coupled with the recent announcement by Dr. Ian Wilmut, cloner of Dolly the sheep, that he is shelving cloning as an unproductive technique in favor of this new ethical method, dubious experiments involving embryo cloning and embryo destruction are being rendered obsolete. Scientists can now work with "embryonic-like" stem cells without ethical concerns, while for patients the adult and cord blood stem cells continue to treat thousands of patients now. Congress should move swiftly to ban all human cloning by passing the Brownback-Weldon human cloning prohibition.
see the new yankee times article here.
well, it's about time! papa ratzi will finally be coming to the states next year. and considering the sad state of affairs in this wonderful country o' ours, his timing is none too soon. but hey, what's up with the suit?
| Your Inner European is Russian! |
 You've got a great balance of danger and allure. |
in addition to my love for all things bacon, i happen to be infatuated with all things "hello kitty" as well. add that to my affinity for active self-defense (yes, i made that phrase up ... i think) and you get this, the glambo signature series hello kitty hk-ak-47...
who says you can't be girly with your grit? visit glamguns.com here.
MamaT's 2cents: I'm waiting for the Disney Princess Poison Rings. What a stocking stuffer!
go take a look-see at snopes.
contrary to popular belief, mamaT has not disappeared into the ether. she is alive and well. in fact, we just had a summa mama date night last friday. we went to see lars and the real girl and then out to dinner.
lars is probably one of the most deeply moving movies i've seen in ... oh ... the past decade. the absurdity of the premise -- a delusional young guy strikes up an unconventional relationship with a doll he finds on the internet -- implies comedy. but if that's all you are expecting, you're in for a big surprise. oh sure, we laughed, but i think mamaT and i cried more. this movie has a huge heart and the characters are so lovable. so lovable in fact, i'd take any one of them for my own family.
the miracle of the movie is ryan gosling (who is an absolute doll himself). i cannot imagine this character working in the hands of any other actor.
doing a little research i found that the story was written by former "six feet under" writer nancy oliver. i loved "six feet under" and hope to see ms. nancy doing much more in the future.
two words from the smock: pure genius.
Additional two cents from MamaT:
Neither Smock nor I can talk about this movie without choking up. So I'll just say this: Ryan Gosling is fabulous in this movie. In a time of fragmentation and darkness in our society, it is a story about community, family and the power of love. It is, above all, a kind movie--a trait that people are far too quick to blow off as sentimentalism or weakness. It is neither. And if it never comes to a theater in your area, rent it when it comes out on DVD. I will.
