Holy Cannoli!

What a last few weeks it has been!

On the Science front: We hear that European scientists have successfully created a hybrid embryo made up of human skin cells and bovine DNA. Some of these embryos are considered viable for harvesting stem cells!

In the UK, Britain's Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority has cleared the way for embryonic scientists to use human DNA within animal egg embryos. Once a certain growth stage is reached, they can ‘kill’ the embryo (after harvesting the all important stem cells for research projects) all without feelings of guilt associated with ending actual human life. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23921668/

Today I learned about a transgendered “man” living in Oregon who has retained his (original) female organs but sports XY anatomy. He is married. His spouse is a woman. HE IS PREGNANT. Not just a little pregnant- he’s almost made it to the third trimester. This is his/her third attempt. Oprah made a push about his/her story on her show recently. Oprah calls this “diversity” and “recognition…should be acceptable to us all.” (What is the appropriate pronoun to refer to this condition? ) http://www.kval.com/news/local/17036046.html

On the Political front: John McCain continues to ease his way to Potomac posterity with a long easy slide leading to the White House. He credits his opponents’ mud-slinging and protracted rivalry for his recent care-free attitude and lifestyle. He can now easily afford to sit back and down a few free beers- thanks to wife, Cindy. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/03/mccains.money.politics.ap/index.html

Hillary Clinton continues her downward spiral into historical oblivion- where this writer believes she will thrive well and alongside other great political pretenders, Al Gore and John Kerry. Clinton has been lambasted for telling lies about a reported trip to Bosnia during her husband’s presidency in which they landed “under enemy sniper fire”. When the media rolled tape of her exiting the plane (upright, and in a completely wrinkle-free pantsuit from Versace), she was called upon to address her story once more. After several days, her campaign (not her) issued a press release and said “she misspoke”. Appearing on Jay Leno’s show last night, the former first lady quipped to the audience that she was late getting to the set because she was ‘under sniper fire’ in the parking lot. Hmmm…perhaps it’s Geritol time, Hill? http://www.startribune.com/politics/17291639.html

Meanwhile, the Kennedy-esque Obama has been pouring on the charm at every opportunity as he looks to distance himself from his earlier media storm - faux pas over his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright. (Somehow, it just isn’t polite to refer to someone as ‘reverend’ when they are so clearly not.) Barack seems to have shaken that media junkyard dog and has done some amazing fundraising at the same time. He has outraised Clinton 2 to 1 in cash. (At one point her campaign acknowledged she had $8.7M in debt!) It is very interesting to me to see this kind of national interest in a black man in this day and age. It’s refreshing- of that there is no doubt. And I’m wonderfully surprised by his huge following and his superstar-like treatment afforded by the media and political pundits alike. I’m waiting for former Reagan speech-writer, Peggy Noonan, to join the commentary on his behalf. Noonan can write circles around even the most seasoned of journalists- and her writing is so balanced you could stand a new razor blade upright and it would stay without fail. http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.asp?cycle=2008

On the Economic front: Markets continue to swing erratically. Depending on where you jump on the monetary merry-go-round, it’s hard to discern which market truly affects the others. One week, the American markets are doing well and the European and Asian markets escalate in sync. The next week, the Asian markets start to slide and Wall Street starts the week digging itself out of a weekend sell-off hole the size of Rhode Island. At least one trusted financial advisor tells this armchair pundit to expect the unexpected through this election run-up. (Which means returns for ’08 are going to be less than par.) He says, “You can expect these wild swings until November/December. The markets feed on political boredom, not political upheaval.” Makes perfect sense to me. I work the same way…unless I’m blogging.

-TMS