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.
Poor Brad Henry.
Oklahomas Democratic governor.
Fairly rational dude, always willing to go to bat for the scientific community in this state.
Tonight he is vetoing the 'UR KILLIN TEH BABBYS!' bill, which would make stem-cell research illegal in Oklahoma. Unfortunately, the House/Senate have the votes to override his veto, effectively making OK scientists who win federally approved and funded grants (or privately donated $$) criminals.
Plus side: According to this 'BABBYS! WONT SOMEONE TINK OF TEH BABBYS!' bill, stem-cell research will only be a misdemeanor.
A misdemeanor.
For 'KILLEN BABBYS!!!!!'
Which pretty much makes stem-cell research irresistible to me.
Job interview:
Potential employer: Have you ever been convicted of a felony?Morons.Me: No, but I did have to do some community service for a misdemeanor.
Potential employer: *frown* DUI? Pot?
Me: Killing babies.
Potential employer: .........
Me: Dont worry-- I didnt kill them without mutating their DNA first. And I starved them for a while just to see what happened to their ERVs, which means, of course, I had to also make them radioactive.
Potential employer: ... Youre HIRED!
Oh, and there is a poll to crash, if yall wanna ;)
Politics
Comments
If you live in Oklahoma, use http://www.capitolconnect.com/oklahoma/ to find your local and state representatives to e-mail and/or call and encourage them to vote against this bill. It's not too late yet.
Posted by: SVN | April 22, 2009 7:43 PM
How is babby formed?
how is babby formed
how girl get pragnent
They need to do way instain mother mother> who kill their babbys, becuse these babby cant frigth back?
Sorry, that was the first thing that came into my head when I read "UR KILLIN TEH BABBYS!"
Posted by: Jared | April 22, 2009 8:12 PM
yr job interview scenario... LOL!
Here's hoping for a veto!
Posted by: biopunk | April 22, 2009 8:19 PM
Some good news from Oklahoma; the FDA will allow 17-year-old girls at risk of pregnancy to get the morning after pill over the counter, in Oklahoma so they can get it promptly and prevent ovulation quickly. It is complying with a federal judge's order that reversed policy set by the Bush administration.
Posted by: Monado | April 22, 2009 8:25 PM
I am sorry for your lots.
Posted by: Brian | April 22, 2009 8:28 PM
If I understand this bill, it will prevent you from doing research with embryos but won't restrict cooking with them. Maybe you should become a chef and publish a cookbook about the subject you can't research. I'd love to see recipes for Embryo Soup, Sauteed Embryo, Stem Cell Surprise and Baby Flamboyan.
Posted by: Joshua Zelinsky | April 22, 2009 8:29 PM
Brad Henry is the same governor who vetoed an "Academic Freedom" bill last year that had been passed by the Oklahoma legislature.
Posted by: The Curmudgeon | April 22, 2009 8:50 PM
Thanks to me and some friends, that poll is well and truly crashed. As I'm posting this, there are over 10,000 votes, and about 9,500 are from us.
Posted by: Courtney | April 22, 2009 10:06 PM
Courtney-- LOL! *high-five*
Theyve got a video up at the link now. 'Lisa Billy' is trying to go all 'Wull poor minority women are gonna be forced into selling their embryos!' Yes, bitch, scientists are all racist babby murdering Nazis. OMFG.
RAGE.
Posted by: ERV | April 22, 2009 10:14 PM
Hey, Abbie, I'm not a racist!
The soupe du jour will be morulas and broccoli
Today's special entree is gastrula and demi-glace
Both come with a side of asparagus spears simmered in the blood of the innocent and a salad.
Posted by: Jared | April 23, 2009 12:21 AM
100 fucking %
Posted by: mikeg | April 23, 2009 12:22 AM
That is one crashed poll.
Posted by: EricJuve | April 23, 2009 12:28 AM
Is Lisa Billy the only interviewee they could find to go on camera?!
Given that the Columbia Journalism Review in 1999 found The Oklahoman the "Worst Newspaper in America", I think it's likely that she's the only interviewee they wanted to find.
I used to live in OKC. I brought up the CJR article to some colleagues when it came out, and was promptly attacked for believing 'liberal propaganda.'
Nope, don't miss Oklahoma at all. There are some fine people there, but the overall social climate is, shall we say, stifling.
Posted by: Equisetum | April 23, 2009 2:47 AM
Damn, but you know how to talk sexy.
Posted by: Sili | April 23, 2009 7:30 AM
I'd think the reaction to that job interview would be, "Give me the name of your lawyer, and you're hired."
Posted by: Ranson | April 23, 2009 7:53 AM
Given that the Bill penalises acts that destroy a human embryo or subjects a human embryo to substantial risk of injury or death, with a misdemeanor.
And given that the law penalises acts that destroy a human or subjects a human to substantial risk of injury or death, with a significantly more serious penalty.
Would this Bill provide legal precedent for the claim that human life does not start at conception?
Posted by: Chris Nedin | April 23, 2009 8:51 AM
Damn, the folks at the news site noticed that the poll had been crashed, and they pulled it from the page. However, it got up over 70,000 votes before that happened. It was funny reading some of the comments, though, of people pointing to the poll, and saying "look how many people disagree with you!"
Posted by: Courtney | April 23, 2009 12:53 PM
The bill was vetoed and the Senate upheld the veto. The only way it can become law now is if it is put up for referendum. It would be a vote to the people of the state. Sadly I see the people voting for it.
Posted by: BeamStalk | April 23, 2009 1:01 PM
Poll crashing skillz: you haz them. LOL.
Posted by: The Chimp's Raging Id | April 23, 2009 4:46 PM