2007 Story of the Year

Two independent investigative groups reported in November the discovery of a method to convert ordinary skin cells into what appear to be embryonic stem cell equivalents. The discoveries were reported in the prestigious scientific journals Science and Cell. In essence, skin cells were reprogrammed to look and behave like embryonic stem cells by the insertion of four additional genes.

The lead investigators were Dr. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University, and Drs. Junying Yu and James Thomson from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Their accomplishments should pave the way for further progress in ethical stem cell research and negates the need to destroy of human embryos to obtain stem cells. It also eliminates the moral quagmire associated with a large scale egg harvesting industry involving thousands of young women,

Although many obstacles must be overcome before these cells will be ready for medical therapies, I fully expect to see Nobel Prizes awarded to these scientists in the future. Moreover, it eases the way for a worldwide ban on all forms of human cloning and the nightmare scenarios bound to accompany such efforts.

President Bush also deserves praise for standing firm against the expansion of human embryo research. It is likely that his resolute stance played a significant role in motivating these and other investigators to pursue ethically acceptable alternatives to embryonic stem cells. The Strenuous Life hopes that the next President of the United States will exhibit similar backbone when faced with the inevitable ethical decisions.

Cursor's Top 10 Posts for 2007

1. Human Embryonic Research Now Unecessary as Well as Unethical

2. Huge Victory for Life

3. It's Not All About Cures

4. Recommending More Strenuous Living

5. It's Official, Rudy is Out

6. Maternal Stem Cell Hope for Childhood Diabetes

7. Don't Insult Them with Your Compassion

8. Strenuous Living Reduces the Risk of Some Breast Cancers

9. Extra Weight Protective? Not So Fast

10. A Mother's Faith and Courage

Festival of PC Lights

We were considering packing up the kids and heading to Winterhaven to enjoy the Christmas lights and displays this evening. The Winterhaven district of Tucson has put on its best since 1949 during the Christmas season delighting thousands of visitors. Knowing that some nights are reserved for walk through and others drive through spectating I checked the Festival of Lights web site. Imagine my surprise to see that the festival organizers felt compelled to dispel the unfortunate myth that "The Festival of Lights is a Christmas celebration." They clarified this misperception by stating that "Light is a common theme among many religions of the world." That may very well be true but nearly everyone that is putting up light displays between December 15th and 28th is celebrating Christmas. I bet the Winterhaven residents of 1949 would be surprised to know that they were not celebrating Christmas. Heck, I imagine there are quite a few residents in 2007 that would be surprised. The fact that Winterhaven officials found it necessary to distance themselves from Christmas is just so much more of the PC gruel that we can do without. I suppose it won't be long before the neighborhood association bans the Christ child, shepherds and angels from their displays. But hey at least the website did indicate that the festival was going green this year! So to all those going to Winterhaven have a wonderful green winter light event. I think we will look for a Christmas celebration.

A Mother's Faith and Courage

First sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, committed Christian, missionary family, and another home school success story. How can the story get any better? How about this...Tim Tebow is a survivor of the post-Roe v. Wade utilitarian culture of death. Not something you're likely to hear about on ESPN or otherwise in the MSM. In fact, I suggest we keep this young man in our prayers. There is nothing more tantalizing to the left leaning media than to bring someone like Tebow down from his Heisman pedestal.

Sending the "Great White Fleet"

This week (December 16th) saw the 100 year anniversary of TR's projection of American naval might around the world. Bret Stevens reminds us in a WSJ opinion piece that Roosevelt was an early proponent of the "peace through strength" doctrine and that we might benefit from this approach today.

"In my own judgement the most important service that I rendered to peace was the voyage of the battle-fleet around the world."
-Theodore Roosevelt

Shameful Scheme for Laudable End

I couldn't agree more that children should consume far less sugary soda, salt loaded fatty foods and the like. However, the federal government has no business intervening in what should clearly be decided at the local level. Unfortunately, Tom Harkin and other brazen power grabbing politicians are introducing federal legislation to do just that. Insuring that nutritious foods are available to school children should be a high priority for parents and school boards, but nowhere on the Department of Agriculture radar screen. If federal agencies have the power to decide what schools dispense in vending machines what is stopping them from mandating that they be stocked with condoms, birth control pills or Ritalin?