Henrietta Lacks Movie--and, Oh Yeah, I'm Still Alive!

If you've missed me (or maybe you haven't), I've been busy with some writing and editing projects, which is great, plus painting and cleaning up the old house in order to get it ready to sell. My partner and I have also been spending more time together. I know I haven't posted much on that lately. It's still touch-and-go, but I really want it to work out if at all possible. I'm seeing him in a brand-new way, and he's simply a great and gentle person. We still have issues to work out, and I still have my own apartment so that I can have space when needed. Once we get through a few more house chores, I think I'll have a better idea of what our future holds as a couple. Stay tuned.

A few months ago, I posted on the novel about Henrietta Lacks (pictured) and her (unwitting) contributions to modern public health. Well, Oprah is now making an HBO feature about Henrietta's life, and she's working with one of my Hollywood favorites, Alan Ball (writer for "American Beauty"). I saw the book the other day in Target and almost bought it, so maybe this merits a return trip. Unfortunately, I don't have HBO but there's always the DVD. Anyway, fascinating story about science with a personal touch.

This weekend brings more stuff to clean out and pack--and I hope my partner and I get to take that bike ride in the park that we discussed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to be back soon for more regular blogging!

Henrietta Lacks Movie--and, Oh Yeah, I'm Still Alive!

If you've missed me (or maybe you haven't), I've been busy with some writing and editing projects, which is great, plus painting and cleaning up the old house in order to get it ready to sell. My partner and I have also been spending more time together. I know I haven't posted much on that lately. It's still touch-and-go, but I really want it to work out if at all possible. I'm seeing him in a brand-new way, and he's simply a great and gentle person. We still have issues to work out, and I still have my own apartment so that I can have space when needed. Once we get through a few more house chores, I think I'll have a better idea of what our future holds as a couple. Stay tuned.

A few months ago, I posted on the novel about Henrietta Lacks (pictured) and her (unwitting) contributions to modern public health. Well, Oprah is now making an HBO feature about Henrietta's life, and she's working with one of my Hollywood favorites, Alan Ball (writer for "American Beauty"). I saw the book the other day in Target and almost bought it, so maybe this merits a return trip. Unfortunately, I don't have HBO but there's always the DVD. Anyway, fascinating story about science with a personal touch.

This weekend brings more stuff to clean out and pack--and I hope my partner and I get to take that bike ride in the park that we discussed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope to be back soon for more regular blogging!

If You Stutter, There May Soon Be More H-H-Help

And yes, I can joke about it because I was once an awful stutterer! Braces did seem to help, but I still lapse into a stutter sometimes if I get particularly nervous or excited about something. Seems to be aggravated, too, by how I'm breathing.

Anyway, scientists have now identified genes that may play a role in stuttering. So, no, you can't blame your parents any more.

If You Stutter, There May Soon Be More H-H-Help

And yes, I can joke about it because I was once an awful stutterer! Braces did seem to help, but I still lapse into a stutter sometimes if I get particularly nervous or excited about something. Seems to be aggravated, too, by how I'm breathing.

Anyway, scientists have now identified genes that may play a role in stuttering. So, no, you can't blame your parents any more.

If You're Healthy and Reading This, Thank Henrietta Lacks

Hmmm, I bet some racists won't like this news ("You mean some black woman's cells were in that vaccine you gave to my lily-white Aryan child?!"). Yes, and it's keeping your useless ass alive, but Lord only knows why.

Fascinating, however, how Henrietta Lacks' cells have never died. I read about this a few years ago in graduate school, but we didn't get into the actual person's name or her background. Personally, I think it's really cool--and appropriate, in a cosmic-justice sort of way--that a poor, African-American woman has had such a positive, life-affirming effect on millions of people around the world. Not that it should surprise us--just that it's all happened without anyone really knowing about it.

Of course, some will see government conspiracy or even further evidence of racism since Henrietta's cells were taken from a tumor without her knowledge. But she might have a bigger heart than all of us and simply think it's a great achievement.

Naturally, some of her relatives think that, because her cells have never died, Henrietta has some special connection to or purpose from the Almighty! I can hang with that. Thanks, Henrietta.

Here's more about "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"--which I totally have to buy.

If You're Healthy and Reading This, Thank Henrietta Lacks

Hmmm, I bet some racists won't like this news ("You mean some black woman's cells were in that vaccine you gave to my lily-white Aryan child?!"). Yes, and it's keeping your useless ass alive, but Lord only knows why.

Fascinating, however, how Henrietta Lacks' cells have never died. I read about this a few years ago in graduate school, but we didn't get into the actual person's name or her background. Personally, I think it's really cool--and appropriate, in a cosmic-justice sort of way--that a poor, African-American woman has had such a positive, life-affirming effect on millions of people around the world. Not that it should surprise us--just that it's all happened without anyone really knowing about it.

Of course, some will see government conspiracy or even further evidence of racism since Henrietta's cells were taken from a tumor without her knowledge. But she might have a bigger heart than all of us and simply think it's a great achievement.

Naturally, some of her relatives think that, because her cells have never died, Henrietta has some special connection to or purpose from the Almighty! I can hang with that. Thanks, Henrietta.

Here's more about "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks"--which I totally have to buy.

Gay Penguins and Laughing Monkeys

Thought these 2 stories were intriguing.

The gay penguins in Berlin have raised a baby penguin on their own (aww!). Apparently there are 3 such same-sex couples there at the Berlin zoo. Wonder how the fundies explain this? Must have been gay penguin teachers in penguin schools or gay programming on penguin television!

And research is showing that some primates laugh, not the same as we do, but they show similar responses and characteristics of laughter. Plus, it's more evidence of how we're linked to primates through evolution. Wonder how the Christians explain this? I mean, seriously, why would "God" give a monkey the ability to laugh?

'Course, considering how some Christians behave, it appears God didn't give them the ability to laugh either!

Gay Penguins and Laughing Monkeys

Thought these 2 stories were intriguing.

The gay penguins in Berlin have raised a baby penguin on their own (aww!). Apparently there are 3 such same-sex couples there at the Berlin zoo. Wonder how the fundies explain this? Must have been gay penguin teachers in penguin schools or gay programming on penguin television!

And research is showing that some primates laugh, not the same as we do, but they show similar responses and characteristics of laughter. Plus, it's more evidence of how we're linked to primates through evolution. Wonder how the Christians explain this? I mean, seriously, why would "God" give a monkey the ability to laugh?

'Course, considering how some Christians behave, it appears God didn't give them the ability to laugh either!

With Hubble Successfully Patched Up, Europeans Launch Next Generation of Telescopes

The Herschel telescope being inspected in 2008

In my opinion, investment in science always pays off, so I'm thrilled to hear that NASA has successfully repaired the Hubble telescope. Now it will be able to peer even farther back into space--an additional 200 million years! Remember, any light we see from space is coming from the past, so--if I have it right--we could theoretically look far enough back and see what the universe looked like the moment it formed. I want to see that!

The Hubble will last a little while longer, and in the meantime, the Europeans have launched the new Herschel telescope and its companion spacecraft (Planck). Can't wait to see what they find!

After a weekend spent pondering the secrets of our galaxy and universe, things like this continue to fill me with awe and wonder.

With Hubble Successfully Patched Up, Europeans Launch Next Generation of Telescopes

The Herschel telescope being inspected in 2008

In my opinion, investment in science always pays off, so I'm thrilled to hear that NASA has successfully repaired the Hubble telescope. Now it will be able to peer even farther back into space--an additional 200 million years! Remember, any light we see from space is coming from the past, so--if I have it right--we could theoretically look far enough back and see what the universe looked like the moment it formed. I want to see that!

The Hubble will last a little while longer, and in the meantime, the Europeans have launched the new Herschel telescope and its companion spacecraft (Planck). Can't wait to see what they find!

After a weekend spent pondering the secrets of our galaxy and universe, things like this continue to fill me with awe and wonder.

Your Body Is Still Useful After Death

Things are hectic once again in the workaday world. But yesterday in the mail, I received my ID/instruction card for donating my body to the local medical school. No, not right away! This is all part of plans for what do with whatever's left when I pass on from this consensual reality. I've decided to donate my carcass to science.

When I was in high school, we visited a medical school, and I was fascinated by the cadavers and what the med students were doing. In fact, when I first entered college, I was going pre-med, but then changed my mind (too much chemistry! ugh!). While others in my class were totally grossed out, I was totally engrossed.

So that's part of why I wanted to donate my body. Science is so important, and we still have so much to learn about how our bodies work. So maybe I can help contribute in this way--reveal how a process works or how a disease unfolds or simply just allow a student to discover and experiment.

Seems most medical schools have similar bequeathal programs, but if you're interested, do your homework since they might have specific restrictions or instructions for your body. For example, in my case, my family or estate will have to pay for transportation costs of my body to the school. And the school prefers to do the embalming since they have different needs than your average funeral home. And there can't be a body present at a funeral showing since the school will need the body right away before it gets all juicy and smelly. Kinda takes away from the classroom experience, you know. And if you're mangled in some woodchipper accident, that renders your body unacceptable--so be careful!

I was previously an organ donor, but giving the entire body seems like it might do more good in the long-term. Maybe this sounds harsh but I seem to value understanding and knowledge more over saving a life. Someone may need a kidney, but maybe it's their time to go. I'm not always a fan of extending life by any means possible. Truth be told, they'll eventually die anyway (see, told you it was harsh). But knowledge lives on and can help countless numbers of people. I had to decide between the two since the local medical school won't accept a body bequeathal if organs (except eyes) have been removed (and my eyes are already shot).

I've told my family and my partner about my decision, and they're cool with it and have signed their consent forms. Once the medical school is done with me (2 weeks to up to 2 years), they'll cremate the remains and return the ashes to the family. So eventually, yeah, I'll be ground up.

I've never wanted an expensive, fancy casket anyway that's just going to be put into the ground. Seems a waste of resources and money. Of course, some say cremation of embalmed remains does release harmful chemicals, including mercury from silver dental fillings. And some say concerns are overblown. I'm hoping to offset this by banking instead on what med students will learn using what's left of me. And cremation ideally takes up less space, depending on what you ultimately do with the ashes.

So that means that I won't have a viewing of the body (always found that creepy and slightly silly: "It looks just like her!" Really? Were you expecting someone else?). Instead I want just a memorial service with photos of me when I was alive and kicking. Seems more appropriate.

What about my ashes? I'm still trying to figure out what to do with those. As I've said before, you need to have plans or you'll end up on someone's closet behind the old board games. More later.

Your Body Is Still Useful After Death

Things are hectic once again in the workaday world. But yesterday in the mail, I received my ID/instruction card for donating my body to the local medical school. No, not right away! This is all part of plans for what do with whatever's left when I pass on from this consensual reality. I've decided to donate my carcass to science.

When I was in high school, we visited a medical school, and I was fascinated by the cadavers and what the med students were doing. In fact, when I first entered college, I was going pre-med, but then changed my mind (too much chemistry! ugh!). While others in my class were totally grossed out, I was totally engrossed.

So that's part of why I wanted to donate my body. Science is so important, and we still have so much to learn about how our bodies work. So maybe I can help contribute in this way--reveal how a process works or how a disease unfolds or simply just allow a student to discover and experiment.

Seems most medical schools have similar bequeathal programs, but if you're interested, do your homework since they might have specific restrictions or instructions for your body. For example, in my case, my family or estate will have to pay for transportation costs of my body to the school. And the school prefers to do the embalming since they have different needs than your average funeral home. And there can't be a body present at a funeral showing since the school will need the body right away before it gets all juicy and smelly. Kinda takes away from the classroom experience, you know. And if you're mangled in some woodchipper accident, that renders your body unacceptable--so be careful!

I was previously an organ donor, but giving the entire body seems like it might do more good in the long-term. Maybe this sounds harsh but I seem to value understanding and knowledge more over saving a life. Someone may need a kidney, but maybe it's their time to go. I'm not always a fan of extending life by any means possible. Truth be told, they'll eventually die anyway (see, told you it was harsh). But knowledge lives on and can help countless numbers of people. I had to decide between the two since the local medical school won't accept a body bequeathal if organs (except eyes) have been removed (and my eyes are already shot).

I've told my family and my partner about my decision, and they're cool with it and have signed their consent forms. Once the medical school is done with me (2 weeks to up to 2 years), they'll cremate the remains and return the ashes to the family. So eventually, yeah, I'll be ground up.

I've never wanted an expensive, fancy casket anyway that's just going to be put into the ground. Seems a waste of resources and money. Of course, some say cremation of embalmed remains does release harmful chemicals, including mercury from silver dental fillings. And some say concerns are overblown. I'm hoping to offset this by banking instead on what med students will learn using what's left of me. And cremation ideally takes up less space, depending on what you ultimately do with the ashes.

So that means that I won't have a viewing of the body (always found that creepy and slightly silly: "It looks just like her!" Really? Were you expecting someone else?). Instead I want just a memorial service with photos of me when I was alive and kicking. Seems more appropriate.

What about my ashes? I'm still trying to figure out what to do with those. As I've said before, you need to have plans or you'll end up on someone's closet behind the old board games. More later.

Eyeborg Can See You!

This is so cool—a guy named Rob Spence who injured one of his eyes in a childhood accident wants to have a mini-camera implanted in his eye socket. Naturally, and possibly ironically, he wants to make a secret documentary, filming people without their knowledge and commenting on how our society is coming to terms with 24/7 surveillance of our lives.

And he calls himself “Eyeborg.” Love the sense of humor. Here’s his blog about the project.

The video is good and gives the basics. Spence got the idea while looking at his cell phone camera and realized the same technology could be placed into a realistic-looking prosthetic eye.

Of course, some will say this is creepy and foretells the end of civilization as we know it! Then again, I always thought the Borg were (was?) cool—so efficient.

Eyeborg Can See You!

This is so cool—a guy named Rob Spence who injured one of his eyes in a childhood accident wants to have a mini-camera implanted in his eye socket. Naturally, and possibly ironically, he wants to make a secret documentary, filming people without their knowledge and commenting on how our society is coming to terms with 24/7 surveillance of our lives.

And he calls himself “Eyeborg.” Love the sense of humor. Here’s his blog about the project.

The video is good and gives the basics. Spence got the idea while looking at his cell phone camera and realized the same technology could be placed into a realistic-looking prosthetic eye.

Of course, some will say this is creepy and foretells the end of civilization as we know it! Then again, I always thought the Borg were (was?) cool—so efficient.

Artist Josiah McElheny's Vision of the Big Bang

I just love it when art and science converge, as with artist Josiah McElheny's sculptures. He's now working on a piece titled "The End of the Dark Ages," a scientifically accurate model representing the origins of our universe, according the The New York Times Magazine.

According to art21 blog:

"Since 2004, McElheny has collaborated with The Ohio State University cosmology professor David Weinberg on the conceptual realization of a series of sculptures that depict the theory of the Big Bang with the language of mid-1960s industrial design. This unexpected pairing of high modernist thought finds its origins in 1965, the year the Big Bang was first confirmed by physical evidence and when the Viennese firm Lobmeyr and Co. was commissioned to design a chandelier with a “galactic appearance” for New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House. The serendipity of these two events inspired McElheny to create his series of scientifically accurate, precisely manufactured sculptures."

So all these appendages, as shown in a similar work here, represent various epochs, one rod for 100 million years, a longer one for 1.3 billion years. Clusters of glass will represent galaxy formations.

Way cool and inspirational--and beautiful!

Artist Josiah McElheny's Vision of the Big Bang

I just love it when art and science converge, as with artist Josiah McElheny's sculptures. He's now working on a piece titled "The End of the Dark Ages," a scientifically accurate model representing the origins of our universe, according the The New York Times Magazine.

According to art21 blog:

"Since 2004, McElheny has collaborated with The Ohio State University cosmology professor David Weinberg on the conceptual realization of a series of sculptures that depict the theory of the Big Bang with the language of mid-1960s industrial design. This unexpected pairing of high modernist thought finds its origins in 1965, the year the Big Bang was first confirmed by physical evidence and when the Viennese firm Lobmeyr and Co. was commissioned to design a chandelier with a “galactic appearance” for New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House. The serendipity of these two events inspired McElheny to create his series of scientifically accurate, precisely manufactured sculptures."

So all these appendages, as shown in a similar work here, represent various epochs, one rod for 100 million years, a longer one for 1.3 billion years. Clusters of glass will represent galaxy formations.

Way cool and inspirational--and beautiful!