Lone Blog in the Wilderness

Evil development marches on, unabated…

Now 137 acres at the east end of our road is up for sale to the first lucky developer with a bribe… bet they’ll name the subdivision Shady Oaks and fell all the trees to make access roads for the 240 houses they can cram in. I’m so sick of this. Just spoke to someone who lives in Utah, by the Kennecott mine. They live in a small community of 12K that is bordered by land owned by the mining corporation. Instead of keeping the land for future mining, they sold it and now the house building will begin – swelling the town to 30K in the next five years. Even a mine shaft in the desert is not safe.

This is so disgusting. I wish I were Buddhist. Buddhists have no attachments (which makes it really hard for them to vacuum under a couch).

Speaking of too many people on the planet…

The Pope is urging Italians to boycott a referendum aimed at repealing restrictions on artificial insemination and embryonic research. At one time, Italy was among the world’s most liberal countries in terms of artificial means for getting pregnant, producing some of the oldest moms and imposing few restrictions on reproductive experimentation.

In December of 2003, laws were passed by the Italy’s center-right government cracking down on all aspects of assisted fertility. Now all fertilized eggs (limit 3) must be implanted at once – you can’t freeze some for later, or destroy any. You also cannot screen embryos for abnormalities. I’m totally against these restrictions, and will watch with interest as I feel these issues will continue to face America as well.

When it come to stem cell research (something I emphatically support – remember when dissecting cadavers was taboo? – get over it people) Bush has threatened to veto any such bill that crosses his desk. Incidentally, he hasn’t vetoed anything yet – threatened to, many times, but as the House and Senate are Republican majority, it hasn’t been needed.

But really, the issue here is: do we need federal funds supporting stem cell research? Of course not. Just because Korea is five years ahead of us on the creation of Super Soldiers is no reason to throw a couple of billion at the problem. Private labs will do just fine. I’m sick of Viagra commercials, aren’t you? Now I want to be told to ask my doctor for Stem-topia™ for what ails me. Can’t wait to who gets to drive the Stem-Cell Stock Car, or what celebrity will convince me Stem-Cell therapy is hip and glamorous.

Thought for the Day: Goals are Dreams with Deadlines – Diana Scharf Hunt

I love deadlines. Especially the whooshing noise they make as they go roaring past…