Neanderpundit

A big part fo the libertarian ideal is Ownership of Self. The idea that your body is yours to do wiht as you please. If you believe this, or if you don’t- you need to read this book.

There are several plot lines that weave their way through the book, and they all have a common element; the idea that genetic research can be done, should be done, and that people that do the research have the right to whatever their research brings. This is a LOT stickier subject than you might imagine.

Frinstance: Say, during the course of treatment for some disease, your doctor finds that your body has the ability to manufacture certain genes that can treat a variety of illnesses. The doctor patents these genes- though they came from your body. SHould the doctor have unlimited access- to YOUR BODY- to harvest the cells? Sound crazy? it’s not. THis could/can/has happened. Read. You’ll like. Crichton at his usual best, and the legal-moral issues are impressively dealt with.

checking it twice

Is there a place on the internet that acts like a Wiki to enumerate and detail the people participating in the Global Warming crap, the Death Cultists, the yadda yadda? If not we should damned sure be making one. A public dossier of people fighting the bad fight. The more information about these dipwads is available the more likely they will be exposed as frauds.

Had one of those moments, you know? I’ve been monitoring the van for the last couple weeks, driving it carefully, watching the mileage.

Each time I checked, I was getting about 32 to the gallon.

THis is unheard of. Now, the Ford 3.0 Vulcan (damned good engine) is economical, it’s not THAT exconomical, so I’m freaking just a bit. How can this thing be getting 30 mpg? but I think, Shit, it’s broke, if it’s getting that kind of mileage- but I’m DAMNED if I’m gonna fix it and make the mileage worse. So I’ve kind of just been keeping it under my hat.

Until I said something to Partner and his brother on Christmas day. We’re talking and I look at Partner’s brother and say… “The odometer measures kilometers. The van gets 30-33 kilometers per gallon.” he looked at me and started laughing, and is laughing still. Here I was freaking out about the mileage, and it’s actually almost perfect; it’s getting approx 19-22 mpg.

Good lord.

Well, I guess I was overdue for a senior moment.