If we're made in Gods image, God's made of gag, pol, and env.
I'm a graduate student studying the molecular and biochemical evolution of HIV within patients and within populations. I also study epigenetic control of ERVs.
July 6, 2008
Category: PUPPY!
Its too hot and too sunny for a black puppy to go outside and play, so Arnies bored and pouting.
I think this is why I get some degree of Summer SAD-- I can only go outside from like, 5 am to 8 am. Rest of the day, its miserable out.
Summer sucks.
Posted by ERV at 4:05 PM • 4 Comments
July 5, 2008
Category: HIV/AIDS
Something odd has been happening recently.
Every time I make a post on HIV, I get the same comment from someone named 'Apostle Shada Mishe'. The first time I didnt let it through because its over 1,000 words long, and just looks like spam, but if he came back and protested, I woulda approved it.
But he didnt protest.
He just posted the exact same comment with the exact same formatting (including pressing 'enter' before he started typing). Never 'I tried to post this before, blah blah blah.' Never 'UR A NAZI AND SUPRESSING MAH MESAGGE!'
The exact same comment, once, on every post on HIV.
So I Googled him. Same thing on other peoples blogs (except 2007 posts are just the YouTube links). Same comment, posted once, and he never returns.
So Id really like to have fun ripping this insane Denier apart, but theres really no point. Apostle Shada Mishe doesnt exist. Hes just a goddamn bot.
At the same time, his comment is hysterical (I have my favorite bits, but Ill let you all fish out your faves), so I will happily post it... mostly because I want to know if the bot will post the same comment on a thread about the comment, LOL!
Posted by ERV at 6:48 PM • 27 Comments
July 3, 2008
Category: HIV/AIDS
Lots of people have been emailing me about this article, currently rotating through the usual science news outlets:
Science Daily
New Scientist
WIRED
Slashdot
*sigh*
Look, guys, I am obnoxiously optimistic about the future of HIV/AIDS. I have no doubts about our ability to one day make HIV/AIDS a distant nightmare, like polio or the plague.
And I also have no qualms with the paper these articles are based on, Establishment of HIV-1 resistance in CD4(+) T cells by genome editing using zinc-finger nucleases. Its neat! Yay!
But let me dump a big bucket of ice cold realism on the press release that spawned those 'science journalism' articles: This research is completely impractical in The Real World, and it sure as hell doesnt "Put Personalized HIV Therapy Within Reach". Giving the general public that impression is deceptive and mean.
Posted by ERV at 7:00 PM • 13 Comments
July 2, 2008
Category: Science Outreach
Remember Christina Comer? The woman who was EXPELLED from the Texas Education Agency after forwarding this disgusting, hateful, explicit email to her coworkers?
Shes suing TEA.
No, not for a million dollars (like the DI wants-- theyd be happy as clams if public schools went extinct). Shes suing for:
Her lawsuit seeks a court order overturning the TEA's neutrality policy on teaching of creationism and declaring that her dismissal was unconstitutional. The suit also seeks her reinstatement to her old job.
Good luck, Ms Comer! May your fish has many noms.
Posted by ERV at 7:30 PM • 11 Comments
July 1, 2008
Category: Creationism
Does anyone watch TV anymore?
Anyone?
I mean, seriously, its like every other day Creationists are doing something infinitely more hysterical than anything Hollywood can think up.
Todays side-splitting sitcom is brought to you by William Dembski and a new character*-- a buxom young brunette named Sean McDowell. They wrote a new hip (some would say, 'groovy'... perhaps even 'ZANY!') book on ID Creationism for teenagers, 'Understanding Intelligent Design'.
I think Creationists are going for 'The Odd Couple' spin with this mismatched duo! Check this out!
Posted by ERV at 7:40 PM • 34 Comments
June 30, 2008
Category: HIV/AIDS • Skepticism/Critical Thinking
While those of us here in the US can have a grand 'ol time loling over wackaloon HIV-Deniers, not everyone on this planet shares that luxury.
There are places on this planet where woo is in control. The person with the political power to give or withhold life saving anti-retrovirals, doesnt believe they work.
She believes in magic.
The health minister in South Africa, where 1 in 5 adults is infected with HIV-1, believes that garlic, beet root, and glittery pixie dust, will 'cure' HIV-1 infections.
Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has been allowing (and potentially having a hand in actively covering up) illegal 'clinical trials' on the efficacy of Matthias Raths magic vitamins on treating HIV-1 infections. Matthias Rath and David Rasnick are just run of the mill snake-oil salesmen who have gotten themselves a pretty great gig...
UNTIL NOW BABY!
A GREAT laymens organization in South Africa called 'Treatment Action Campaign' has been rallying against these assholes for years. They finally got Rath and Rasnick in trouble for friggen illegally performing clinical trials on poor HIV-1 infected individuals, who incidentally, dont get antiretrovirals from the government because their health minister supports Rath and Rasnick.
*blink*
Guys, you have no idea how many hoops I have to jump through just to to RT-PCR on some decade old serum samples from Africa. You all have no idea. Maybe we can convince PhysioProf to do a post on how big of a pain in the ass it is to do research on humans (or animals!) and why thats a very good thing... And how ignoring those rules and regulations is one of the dumbest things you can do in Research World.
But heres my main point-- Every time you start getting discouraged about some wackaloon Christian Dominionist speaking at the White House or passing some BS Creationist bill, dont give up your efforts. Treatment Action Campaign is a perfect example of what the collective efforts of laymen can achieve.
Posted by ERV at 6:40 PM • 12 Comments
June 29, 2008
Category: Personal
I finally had some time to get the BLAGROLL together! You all will never be bored again-- LOTS of good stuff in there, so read up!
Please check to make sure Ive got you listed right, or if you missed the first call, go ahead and leave a comment!
Aaaand Im still working on the nifty rotating side-bar thingie... thatll take another free afternoon to figure out, lol!
Posted by ERV at 9:19 PM • 38 Comments
Category: Creationism • Evolution
Despite the wackaloon letters PZ gets, Im being serious! It really is nice!
I encourage everyone to leave questions in the comments or send me emails if they want to know more about a topic, and I am just as happy to oblige a evilutionist as a Creationist. Especially when theyre nice about it!
So I got a Q from a nice fellow a couple days ago:
Hello there. I noticed your article in regards to the HIV variant that resulted in a new protein-protein binding site as a counterexample of one of Behe's claims (that we have not observed such a thing in HIV). I just finished reading EOE and although I am on the "other side" (I believe in God, ID, etc) I'm still always interested in what your side has to say. You don't have to answer this, but did you write that article because you are firmly opposed to Behe's views, or simply because you felt insulted that the research you have been putting in to something as sensitive and important as HIV was not being recognized to some degree? Just curious...Also, did you get a chance to read EOE or did you just familiarize yourself with the HIV stuff?
Goodluck in your doctorate,
Nice Fellow
-------
Posted by ERV at 8:00 AM • 12 Comments
June 26, 2008
Category: Lab Life
Its summertime.
And when you work in the lab, summertime means summer undergraduate students! Theyre like any lab member-- sometimes theyre good, sometimes theyre bad, sometimes they are somewhere in between-- but no matter what, its a great opportunity for them to try out Research World and for us (grad students) to get mentoring experience.
Our summer student this year is a ton of fun! Not only has she been incredibly helpful to me in the lab, her personality meshes perfectly with our labs dynamics.
Example: Tomorrow summer undergrad has to give a presentation on her project to the other undergrads. I was going over with her why she was doing X, Y, and Z, the over all Big Picture of her project, and so on. She seemed to get it, but then she let out an exasperated sigh, "*sigh* I just dont see how the Holy Spirit fits into any of this."
Completely deadpan.
*blink*
ROFL!!!
heeeeeeehehehehehehehe! Good times! Good times corrupting the little ones heeeeeehehehehehehehehehe!
Posted by ERV at 7:35 PM • 21 Comments
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If I like what I see, I'll receive 5 more issues (6 in all) for just $14.95. That's 50% off the cover price! If I'm not completely satisfied, I'll simply write "cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing. The free issue is mine to keep.
(Non-U.S. subscribers, click here.)
