What has the Space Program/NASA/ISS/Space Shuttle done for us?

CNET News.com has the goods on a new breakthrough in the production of stem cells that may eliminate the whole embryonic stem cell controversy.

(H/T Instapundit)

Microgravity technology developed by NASA can multiply stem cells from a newborn's blood in large enough quantities to be used to regenerate human tissue, London scientists have found.

Telomerase and Stem Cells

Via Instapundit.

By making mice grow furrier coats, researchers have discovered that an enzyme known to serve as a last-ditch defense against cancer also activates adult stem cells, which the body uses to repair its tissues.

The insight could lead to new treatments for certain diseases, possibly even promoting hair growth in animals other than mice.

The research, reported by Steven E. Artandi and colleagues at Stanford University in Nature today, shows that adult stem cells can be activated by an enzyme called telomerase.

The finding is surprising because telomerase is well known in a quite different context, protecting against tumors by limiting the number of times a cell can divide. The new findings put the enzyme astride two major biological pathways, one that promotes the growth of new cells for maintaining tissues and the other that prevents the excessive growth that leads to tumors.

Telomeres have previously been thought to play a role in aging. They are structures on a genetic level that seem to reduce with each successive generation. In other words, they may be the "timer" that determines how long a given cell will continue reproducing. Telomerase evidently is the enzyme that reduces telomeres. This newly discovered role (activating adult stem cells) may provide a solution to slowing or stopping aging at the cellular level.

When Dolly, the cloned sheep, was created, the scientists discovered that her cells' telomeres were lacking the length that an actual 'newborn' sheep has. This suggests that clones of adult cells inherit the length of telomere that the donor cell possesses at the time of donation. (Philip Dick may have been prescient in Blade Runner, otherwise known as "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?".)

Mushroom Clouds

Instapundit.com - has an excerpt from Max Boot of the L.A. Times,

"It is hard to imagine how many more GIs and Tommies would have perished in 1944-45 had Anglo-American leaders flinched from using all the means at their disposal to hasten the end of the war. Indeed, if the U.S. had staged a blood-drenched invasion of Japan while holding back its atomic arsenal, President Truman would have been indicted for that decision too."

Actually, per the History Channel, our invasion plan for Japan called for the use of atomic bombs to clear an avenue of approach for our invading force to follow into the interior of Honshu! They were oblivious to the dangers of radiation back then and our troops would probably have ultimately succumbed to the exposure too. So, we would have used more atomic bombs in the course of an invasion of Japan than we did.

What is little known is that there was a coup attempt by the senior generals in Japan at the end. They did not want to surrender and took control of the country/armed forces. They had no plans to surrender even after both atomic bombs were dropped!

Ultimately, a conventional bombing raid by the US in the NW part of Honshu serendipitously eliminated the leaders of the coup, control reverted to the emperor, and Japan surrendered.

Furthermore, the Japanese had plans to attack San Francisco with a radiological "dirty" bomb on August 17th, 1945. There is speculation that had they succeeded the Bay Area would be uninhabitable even today. Fortunately for us, the required radioactive elements (heh, heh) for the attack were coming on a U-boat from Nazi Germany and were surrendered to the US by the U-boat commander. This was only after Germany had surrendered and the Commander decided to not continue the mission.

New SCOTUS Appointment

Fox News is reporting that John Roberts of the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will be President Bush's pick to replace Justice O'Connor on the SCOTUS.

There is an interesting precedent set by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R, UT) during the appointments of Ruth Bader-Ginsberg (former lawyer for the ACLU) and Justice Breyer by President Clinton. Although the appointees were at the other end of the philosophical spectrum of the Senator (and a great many other Senators), both were overwhelming approved by the Senate. Justice Bader-Ginsberg received a 99-0 vote for her confirmation.

Here is the DOJ bio for Roberts. And here is a Law.Com article about the presumptive nominee. (H/T to ConfirmThem.)

Congressional Quarterly has a good summary of the confirmation process and history.

Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S

This is the car that my wife wants. Well, the burgundy and black version anyway. Guess it's time for a tip jar.

Iraq War Fatalities

This interactive map illustrates where all of the coalition casualties have occured in Iraq. After it has loaded, uncheck all of the country boxes. Then, go through them one by one and look at who is doing the work.

(H/T Instapundit)

Ukraine West

Sound Politics has a bunch of good Puget Sound stuff. The Dems are still carrying on as if there was a legitimate gubenatorial election last fall.

Asshat? LMAO!

Instapundit , as usual, has tons of great stuff...make sure you get to the asshat comment...the Prof has a way with words.

It's called sedition

Sen Durbin slanders his own country and Mark Steyn has the goods. (H/T to Instapundit. )

France, 'non' Turkey?

(HT to Instapundit)

John O'Sullivan of the Chicago Sun-Times, has a larger view of the looming European crisis.

The 'Non' vote in France this past weekend was really a 'Oui' for more socialism, more welfare handouts, and a shift away from Chirac's right-wing party. (Thanks to my brother-in-law, Hori, a naturalized Parisian, for explaining this to me.)

Consider that folks, in France Chirac is considered to the right because he's a de Gaullist. Here, he'd be left of Bill Clinton.

Memorial

Memorial
Originally uploaded by sashasdoc.

Note the addition of the black helmet and vest for the fallen members of the press.

Memorial Day

The following is an e-mail from a mate who served in Vietnam and continues to do so--as a civilian--in Iraq.

"I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means...."
--John Adams


Good Morning from Baghdad,

I wanted to take a few minutes and tell you all that I hope you will have a Happy, Healthy and Safe Memorial Day Weekend. I realize to many Americans all that it represents is three days off from work and the herald of the summer vacation season.

Since most of you are "Warriors" (or the Family of) in you own right; and since most of you have served in the Military (or have Family that does) I would hope this weekend would be a little more. Please remember all the Troops and those "old-timers" (like me & my mates) who support them here (and in Afghanistan, the Korean DMZ) and hundreds of other places around the world & who are in "Harm's Way" this week end.

The operational tempo here is incredibly high as we have on-going or are opening new major anti-insurgency operations (that have been posted in the press in the last few days). For all of us it will be business as usual; there will be no picnics or parades.

The Marines & Soldiers out in western Iraq (Anbar Province) & many here in Baghdad and the northern Camps live and work in very Spartan conditions. For them a clean place to sleep,clean uniforms, a piece of ice or cold drink, hot meal, hot cup of coffee in the morning is often a fantasy. They live in conditions every bit as tough as the Vietnam era Fire Support Bases & Special Forces "A-Camps". Also for some of them this weekend will be their last. They don't whine or complain they drive on.

Please remember all who have gone before them since our great Nation's Birth and the sacrifices they have made (many gave "The Last Full Measure of Devotion"). Without them (the kids of today and those fallen before them) you would not have this weekend. Remember too all those with broken bodies and spirits from all of these outings; many who languish in Military Medical Centers (like Walter Reed Army Medical Center or Bethesda Naval Medical Center in Washington, D.C.) or Veterans Administration Domiciles across the US. Many who have no Families or "nobody wants" anymore. It is because of all of them; you and I have the job opportunities, nice houses, cars, or freedom to worship (or not if you choose) that we do.

This includes the Freedom of the Press- I often hear a lot of bad stuff about the Press Corps; but I have seen many honest Journalists and their "Shooters" (Camera-Men and Women like Sharon & Maya & others I have come to know.). More of them have been killed or badly wounded in the twenty-six months of this conflict than during the fifteen plus years of the US War in Vietnam/SE Asia. For our Democracy to work someone has to get our Government to remain honest and accountable to those they serve. Please remember that there are many good ones who are driven to get out the truth.

Many of them report the issues they are not responsible for what the issues may be. I can't help but think our Founding Fathers were smart enough to figure all of this out when they wrote our great Constitution and Bill of Rights. It's certainly not perfect but it is still working and is still one of the greatest documents ever drafted by human minds & hands. If we are such a bad place to live then I would suggest you come here and get one of these $5-$10/day jobs digging ditches, handling garbage or raw sewage with your bare hands while they are still available. If we are such a bad place then why do most of the poor of the world want that miraculous little "Green Card"? Why do they want to come to our shores?

For me personally; it's always a long weekend- because I have been blessed to live a life and have walked in the shadows of some truly great men; I have had the honor to have known and worked with six of the Special Forces & Infantry Medal of Honor Recipients. I have been blessed to live all my today's because many of my friends and absent comrades gave up all their tomorrow's. For many of you who have been there and done that I am sure you understand- and share the guilt I feel. I know that none of them would want that; but still that it how it is.

Please take care of yourselves; my best to you and your Families. Please don't forget to take a few minutes of silent reflection tomorrow at 15:00. Please pray to the God or Higher Power of your choice and belief system for all the Fallen; and remember that "Freedom Is Not Free".


De Oppresso Liber,

Doc Rakofsky Sends-

PS: This is a hyperlink I have sent to most of you before... It came my way thanks to SGM (Ret) Tony Bell an old SF Friend/Brother whose Dad was also SGM Bell of the US Army's SF; who I had the good fortune to have known in Nam and during his days as a Police Officer after retirement. I think it's well done, very moving and worth a re-visit this Memorial Day. It may give you an insight into the level of toil & sacrifice here by Our Troops... God Bless & Keep You All.

Click on the title to this post to follow the hyperlink that Doc sent.

The Future of TV?

Systm may be the next big thing. Check out the newest step in the evolution of on screen entertainment.

Cholesterol anyone?

Go check out this effort to create a 30,000 calorie sandwich! Uff da!

Soldier & Dying Child

Soldier & Dying Child
Originally uploaded by sashasdoc.

A friend working in Iraq sent this in an e-mail.

Hey Ya'll,

Here's a moving picture of a young Army Ranger-Infantryman consoling a
critically injured child after one of the many recent suicide car bombings
here. Shortly after the picture was taken the child died; and the Soldier
sat down and openly wept. I have a thirty-eight year old photo at home of a
big Afro-American Combat Medic in Vietnam holding a tiny Vietnamese orphan
child and the caption on it says: "Nobody ever asked me what good I did;
all they wanted to know was how many people I killed?"...

Doc-Ski Sends

Coke VS. Pepsi

OK. For a while now I've noticed what appears to be a deeper division than Red VS Blue. Actually, it may just be the same philosophical collision writ large on a commercial scale.

I've noticed that there is a correllation between major commercial brand names and the political philosophy of their respective consumers. Furthermore, those that lean to the Left prefer brands with five (5) letters in the name, while Right leaning counterparts seem to prefer competing brands that have four (4) letters in their names. (An interesting aside is that Left has four letters and Right has five, but that's just to balance the Karma.)

For example, I present the following for your amusement and enlightenment:

Ford VS Chevy (Short for Chevrolet, I know...sounds French.)
Coke VS Pepsi
Colt VS Glock (Glock, USA, not the Austrian home company.)
Dell VS Apple (OK, I'm writing this on an iBook, but I'm an independent Libertarian.)
Jack (Mr. Daniels) VS Crack (the generic brand)
Army (or Navy) VS Peace Corps (Double 'fiver'!)
Dish VS cable
Bush VS Kerry (Not brands, strictly speaking, but come on!)

Pope John Paul II

So, it's been a while since I posted here. My wife and I were following the pontiff's death and funeral on the TV.

I was raised a Lutheran, but now the closest label to my "religion" is probably that of 'lapsed Buddhist'. I actually find a great many problems with present Roman Catholic doctrine. (On the other hand, I am regularly amused by American Catholics constant 're-interpretation' of those doctrinal issues that are disagreeable to them. When do democratic principles usurp orthodox articles of faith?)

Although I personally do not agree with many tenets of the Roman Catholic faith, I very much respected the Pope for sticking to his principles throughout his Papacy. As one well known protestant quipped, "That Pope can really Pope!"

His election is the first I can recall watching as a youngin' and came at a time that the youth today cannot fathom. We had Carter doing his damage in the White House, the Cold War was in full swing, and the Fonz was the Timberlake of the day.

Enter this Polish Pontiff, this slinger of Slavic Solidarity, the man from the Man...he went to Poland. An anti-commie Congregationalist. While Carter waffled, the Pope kicked ass. Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Reagan came. The Age of Actors was upon us. The Pope and the Ronald didn't always see eye-to-eye, but they agreed that Communism wasn't good for the global community. Eventually, although the President was retired and the Pope was still Pope, the Soviet Union didn't survive the Age of Actors.

As the years progressed, the Pope visited more countries and travelled more miles than any other Pope in history, It is estimated that he spoke to more people (in person) than anyone else in history. Even Castro was respectful.

He suffered a great deal in the twilight of his pontificate. Aside from the 1981 assassination attempt, he later suffered a broken femur, a dislocated shoulder, and a hip replacement in successive years.

He was a dynamic leader that didn't equivicate and who wasn't afraid to criticize those persons and practices that were at loggerheads with his beliefs. His presence made the world a richer place and he liberated the opressed.

Requiscat in Pace, padre.

Blogs for Bankruptcy!

Politology is the pivot point for a last ditch effort to kill the bill. No, not that Bill! The bankruptcy bill will be voted on in the Senate today, March 10.

Call your designated pork barrel jockey and make it plain that this is not your will and that you will remember how they voted come Election Day.

This bill rewards the credit card companies for extending credit to poor risk persons by allowing them too much latitude in collecting the resultant outstanding debts.

Are you dialing yet? Go...now...call!

Right To Carry

In (FOXNews.com) Good Samaritan Gun Use John Lott Jr. examines what happened last week in Tyler, TX. Show of hands people, how many of you knew that Arroyo's killing spree was stopped by a private citizen with a Concealed Carry Weapons Permit?

"Only two stories mentioned that the AK-47 was a semi-automatic, not a machine gun, and, while it is understandable, none of the articles provided context by explaining that Arroyo’s weapon functioned the same as deer hunting rifles, firing the same caliber bullets, at the same rapidity, and doing the same damage."

"The citizen, 50 year old Mark Wilson, was one of the two people murdered. As CNN reported, 'Everyone here agrees, Wilson saved lives.' Fox News' website quoted the sheriff as saying 'if it hadn't been for Mr. Wilson, [Arroyo's son] would be dead.'

Wilson, a licensed concealed handgun permit holder, heard Arroyo’s shots and saw the commotion from his apartment window. He grabbed a handgun and headed toward the attacker. Arroyo had already wounded several police officers and there was no one left to prevent his rampage."

"It is not remarkable that someone such as Mark Wilson was there at the scene to stop the attack before police arrived. For example, in about 30 percent of the multiple victim public school shootings that have captivated Americans’ attention starting in 1997, people used guns to stop the attacks before uniformed police were able to arrive on the scene. Few people know about these cases because only about one percent of the news stories on these cases mention how the attacks were stopped."

"Of course, gun control advocates draw their usual conclusion from all this. Kristen Rand, legislative director for the pro-gun control Violence Policy Center in Washington, D.C., claims the Tyler shooting last Thursday shows that criminals are undeterred by people potentially carrying concealed weapons. But, in fact, more nearly the opposite is true. When Arroyo faced the choice of continuing to shoot others or defending himself, he was forced to defend himself. Making Arroyo's attacks more risky caused him to change his behavior."

"Many people find it hard to believe that 18 national surveys by academics as well as national polling organizations show that there are 2 million defensive gun uses each year. After all, if these events were really happening, wouldn't we hear about them on the news?...This misreporting actually endangers people's lives. By selectively reporting the news and turning a defensive gun use story into one that merely says "police shot him dead," the media give misleading impressions of what actions saved the lives of people confronted by violence. As Wilson's case demonstrates, defensive gun use is not a guns-rights myth. Guns have been and are used by law abiding citizens to protect and save their own lives and the lives of others."

What happens in Vegas, stays in, uh, Grade School?

FOXNews.com reports Vegas Mayor Tells Students He Loves Gin to a class of fourth graders.

Mayor Oscar Goodman: "I answered the question honestly and truthfully. I'm not going to lie to children. I'm not going to say I would take a teddy bear or a Bible or something like that."

No word on what brand hizzoner prefers, although 'Beefeater" would probably help please any Vegans out there that aren't offended by his drinking comments.