(no subject)
do we really need a quiz that will tell us whether or not we hate our jobs? are we incapable of knowing that on our own? apparently, MSN doesn't think so. ah, me.
johanna and i both found out today that the best way to get what we want is to throw a temper tantrum. they always tell you when you're a kid that it isn't an effective way to voice your needs, but we have proven them wrong. the day after johanna throws a temper tantrum: gets to go in for candice in rehearsal. the day after i throw a tantrum: i get to go in for abbie, and i find out that i get to go in for heather on monday. so, we both get what we wanted (which was really such a simple request in the first place - we just wanted to dance, which after all is what we are here to do), and all we had to do was to whine and complain. what kind of lesson is this to be learning? a sweet, selfish one that is o-so-rewarding to indulge in. now i want to have a fit about my single-ness. will an available young gentleman appear on my doorstep? highly doubtful.
also today was the continued reading of my current book, MENDEL IN THE KITCHEN, a work of non-fiction that explains and explores the world of genetic engineering. a little story: once, a scientist named Stephen Lindow of the University of California at Berkeley decided that what he really would like to do was to eliminate a certain kind of bacteria present on the leaves of strawberry plants. this bacteria produces a protein on the leaves that serves as an excellent nucleus for the formation of ice crystals in the event of a late spring frost, damaging the plant and the fruit it has produced. in order to eliminate this protein, Lindow isolated the gene within the bacteria that coded for this protein, which he called ice(+), and proceeded to delete most of that gene. the new strain, labeled ice(-), was ready to be tested on strawberry fields. the person in charge of spraying the ice(-) strain onto the experimental field was named Julianne Lindemann, and was required by standard state regulations to wear what could be described as a "moon suit." nearby photographers snapped photos of her wearing the suit while spraying the genetically altered bacteria onto the plants, and these photos were immediately used as fodder for the already growing protest against GMOs. even though those photographers were standing within 10 feet of Lindemann and would have been "infected" had the genetically altered bacteria been as deadly as protesters would have liked to have thought. and then, these protesters went one step further and ripped up all the plants in the field, destroying any chance for conclusive evidence to be gained from that particular field. i suppose i understand that some...traditionalists may have problems accepting GMOs, but what i don't understand is why. they aren't dangerous. there is no way they could be, with all the FDA, NIH, EPA, etcetc tests and standard they have to live up to. but even before those organizations decided to take a hand, why is DNA so holy that it should never be changed? mutations occur in almost every natural division anyway, and plant and animal breeders have been "altering" organisms for a very long time, albeit in a more roundabout and lengthy manner. i don't understand why splicing a tomato mosaic disease resistant gene into the DNA of a tomato plant automatically makes the plant "scary" or "dangerous" or "unnatural." hm. anyway, just a little story i found somewhat frustrating.
and so there was no more to write tonight. the end.
johanna and i both found out today that the best way to get what we want is to throw a temper tantrum. they always tell you when you're a kid that it isn't an effective way to voice your needs, but we have proven them wrong. the day after johanna throws a temper tantrum: gets to go in for candice in rehearsal. the day after i throw a tantrum: i get to go in for abbie, and i find out that i get to go in for heather on monday. so, we both get what we wanted (which was really such a simple request in the first place - we just wanted to dance, which after all is what we are here to do), and all we had to do was to whine and complain. what kind of lesson is this to be learning? a sweet, selfish one that is o-so-rewarding to indulge in. now i want to have a fit about my single-ness. will an available young gentleman appear on my doorstep? highly doubtful.
also today was the continued reading of my current book, MENDEL IN THE KITCHEN, a work of non-fiction that explains and explores the world of genetic engineering. a little story: once, a scientist named Stephen Lindow of the University of California at Berkeley decided that what he really would like to do was to eliminate a certain kind of bacteria present on the leaves of strawberry plants. this bacteria produces a protein on the leaves that serves as an excellent nucleus for the formation of ice crystals in the event of a late spring frost, damaging the plant and the fruit it has produced. in order to eliminate this protein, Lindow isolated the gene within the bacteria that coded for this protein, which he called ice(+), and proceeded to delete most of that gene. the new strain, labeled ice(-), was ready to be tested on strawberry fields. the person in charge of spraying the ice(-) strain onto the experimental field was named Julianne Lindemann, and was required by standard state regulations to wear what could be described as a "moon suit." nearby photographers snapped photos of her wearing the suit while spraying the genetically altered bacteria onto the plants, and these photos were immediately used as fodder for the already growing protest against GMOs. even though those photographers were standing within 10 feet of Lindemann and would have been "infected" had the genetically altered bacteria been as deadly as protesters would have liked to have thought. and then, these protesters went one step further and ripped up all the plants in the field, destroying any chance for conclusive evidence to be gained from that particular field. i suppose i understand that some...traditionalists may have problems accepting GMOs, but what i don't understand is why. they aren't dangerous. there is no way they could be, with all the FDA, NIH, EPA, etcetc tests and standard they have to live up to. but even before those organizations decided to take a hand, why is DNA so holy that it should never be changed? mutations occur in almost every natural division anyway, and plant and animal breeders have been "altering" organisms for a very long time, albeit in a more roundabout and lengthy manner. i don't understand why splicing a tomato mosaic disease resistant gene into the DNA of a tomato plant automatically makes the plant "scary" or "dangerous" or "unnatural." hm. anyway, just a little story i found somewhat frustrating.
and so there was no more to write tonight. the end.