A call to concerned citizens

For those who've been looking for an opportunity to sound off on forthcoming science policy, I have just what you need. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) has just passed through the House of Representatives. This piece of legislation is intended to protect Americans from the snares of genetic discrimination and may have direct influence on a current draft document, should it get passed, that you can review. The Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society ( SACGHS ) has a working document that discusses the promises and perils of pharmacogenetics (the ability to tailor drugs to work most effectively in certain genetic profiles). The document is open to public comment and I've been assured by the head of this task force, one of my professors, that they truly consider what gets written. Inaccuracy, imbalanced, fair, wonderful -- let them know! They would appreciate your participation.

Hello

Friends,

I have a dream that one day... I'll add to this blog without so many time lapses between entries. Goal for the summer, perhaps. With the end of the semester drawing near, there are feelings of relief, joy, and pain. The pain comes from saying goodbye to many of my classmates. This was a particularly wonderful semester. I've especially enjoyed my lunch-time journal club that arose de novo, which often became extensions to ethical discussions from class.

1 Take Home exam + 2 papers = the final stretch for me.

Interesting news:

I recently recieved a link to this talk via the NCBC. It's a talk by Dr. Edmund Pelligrino, which I've yet to listen to in its entirety, but I like the introductory section. He charts the emergence of bioethics. His discussion is informed by philosophical and theological reflection.

If anyone missed this article on Invisibility Cloaks and the possibility of its realization -- Check IT OUT!

Lastly, the Mitnaul Music Group is official. Our publishing deal is through SESAC. Of course, all of this work was made possible by the ever-vigilant, masterfully musical Bastion. Happy Thursday!

Word of the Day

Courtesy of Dictionary.com

spoonerism \SPOO-nuh-riz-uhm\, noun:
The transposition of usually initial sounds in a pair of words.

Some examples:
We all know what it is to have a half-warmed fish ["half-formed wish"] inside us.
The Lord is a shoving leopard ["loving shepherd"].
It is kisstomary to cuss ["customary to kiss"] the bride.
Is the bean dizzy ["dean busy"]?
When the boys come back from France, we'll have the hags flung out ["flags hung out"]!
Let me sew you to your sheet ["show you to your seat"].

Spoonerism comes from the name of the Rev. William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930), a kindly but nervous Anglican clergyman and educationalist. All the above examples were committed by (or attributed to) him.

The hills are alive...

My youngest brother hath done it again. Fans and foes of Gwen Stefani's song "Wind It Up" are guaranteed to love Bastion's Wind It Up that takes it back. Literally... I mean ALL the way back to the Austrian Alps! He nuances the monochromatic jam into a prism of sonic beauty. It truly is fun for the whole family!

ENJOY.

DISFRUTA.

Here's the original for those who need to get familiar.