Progress comes at a price

I hate people who argue that we shouldn't do Embryonic Stem Cell Research because it's unpromising. It's the lamest excuse in the book, because at the start of research, by definition, you won't know what you will come up with at the end. Plus, much truly groundbreaking research is dangerous.

I would compare Embryonic Stem Cell Research to flying at the start. Many early wannabe pilots died when their 'aircraft' crashed. The most famous is Otto Lilienthal, whose famous quote "sacrifices must be made" was all too prophetic of his own death due to a glider accident. The first passenger in an airplane died (Signal Corps Lieutenant Thomas Selfridge). I can't find statistics on early pilots trying to cross the Atlantic, but many died in the attempt before Lindberg successfully made history. And the US Air Mail had a horrendous survival rate during it's first years of operation.

Plus, we learned how flight crews were unable to work together effectively to the Tenerife disaster at the cost of 583 deaths. UAL 232 is a testament to CRM in that 184 people survived on a flight that should have ended up as a smoking hole in some cornfield.

Today, the most dangerous part of aviation is the drive to the airport. The deaths of yesterday make flying very safe because we learned from our mistakes and have improved safety.

Republican Closet

I've been there, done that. Since I live in Madison, WI, often times I am assumed to be a Democrat/Green party supporter. This usually manifests itself as someone starts in on how the Iraq war was unnecessary/unjust/illegal/treasonous/etc and Bush/Cheney/etc should be impeached, put on trial, or whatever.

Usually I just sit there and tune out the conversation or walk away. The only real defense mechanism I can use if I want to argue is to claim I'm a libertarian (and I am, but I don't vote that way usually). And lord forbid that I actually say I'm for Bush, because I will get a hearing to from the people there for the rest of the day.

Battlestar Galactica Season 3 - Preview

If you wonder why I love Battlestar Galactica and SciFi in general, just watch this preview and say it's not pro.

I wish I had cable TV, I used to watch this show religiously and would/will :) do so again this season.