OOOOOOOOOO

So here's a photo of the pumpkin I carved 21 Oct. I don't think I need to say anything...but Change is hopefully coming!

McShame pisses off the rowdy science crowd!

Well I didn't think much about the comment McCain made about the 'overhead projector for the Chicago Planetarium' in the debate the other night - other than it was just one example of 'pork' he probably could have used that was connected to O. I was more struck by his proposal to put ALL govt programs on freeze or cut except defense (I could just hear the NSF dollars evaporating). Yet apparently he really did use a BAD example and a number of people in science are pissed about his choice - see article about Sky Theatre funding.

Add to this his comments on govt programs the far right's lack of support for stem cell research and I think McShame should pull out of the science field as well as MI!

A Bitch Slap to Robert Gallo!

For those geeks out there that know of the long running feud between American retrovirus pioneer Robert Gallo and French HIV researchers Luc Montagnier and (to a lesser extent by association) Francoise Barre-Sinoussi - the genesis of this feud is highlighted very effectively in the movie "And The Band Played On" - it seems with the award of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology those in Stocholm have spoken! Condolences to Gallo (although I tend to side with the French on this one)!

Condolences

My condolences to Mannie for the loss of Paul Newman. I'm pretty confident you've already dug out Slapshots to rewatch for the week.

On another note, it's almost Halloween. The chill is in the air. Is 'ole Luke getting an honorary tombstone in the Liscum graveyard? Was he ever in any horror flicks?

Are you serious? What happened to intelligence in this country?

For any of you who (like I) find it hard to fathom that female supporters (or male for that matter) of Hillary could now turn and run for a diametrically-opposed plank of the GOP because McCain picked a veep with an XX sex chromosome composition, or that they might be so pissed about Hillary not getting the nomination as to vote GOP independent of McCain's VP pick, you need to check out this completely shocking site:

Just Say No Deal

I know these people (former Dems) viscerally hate Obama but are they serious, now suddenly they are willing to cast their vote, and encourage others to do likewise, for a ticket that is SO fundamentally different from all that Hillary stands for (with the exception, as Gloria Steinem has stated "the sharing of a single chromosome")? The divisive ignorant nature of Americans befalls me!

The PIs feeling on Gov. Palin's belief on Creation in public schools

What is scary about Palin is not her faith (I have absolutely no issue with faith per se) but her desire to 'force' it upon others. I have no problem with teaching Creation, but it simply does NOT belong in the public school science class. Creation (or Intelligent Design) is NOT science and thus does not belong in a science classroom. Sunday school, theology, and maybe philosophy YES, public school science class NO. And to use the argument that 'let the kids see both sides and debate the issue' is really quite silly. Should we also allow revisionist history to be taught in public schools? To borrow from the Republican play book, this is a 'slippery slope'. If Creation is taught alongside evolution in public school science classes we best start teaching David Irving-style Holocaust revisionist history in world history classes - so we can allow the students to debate the issue (how ignorant does this sound?). Healthy debate is good, but there is a place for it and Creation does NOT belong in a science class. It is faith, and faith belongs in the heart and the congregation. As a scientist I cannot apply scientific method to test faith or the potential validity of Creation. This fact alone means that Creation can not be science, and thus simply does not belong in public school science classes. Faith does not need to be proven, but that is what we attempt to do on a daily basis in science with theory. My students cannot publish results that are based on 'faith' of theory, but rather need to provide evidence for or against. Creation cannot be tested or proven by scientific method, it only requires faith. The founding fathers felt that the Church and State belonged separate and if the Second Amendment is to be held with such high regard maybe we should hold this ideal in high regard as well?

So Sarah Palin scares me because of how she blurs the line between her faith and her job as a public servant. I have to believe that she can have strong faith without trying to legislate it. Aren't we frequently hearing the argument forwarded by President Bush about liberal judges legislating their views. How is Palin's (or the Republican plank) any different? Do they just feel that THEIR beliefs, being grounded in faith, are simply better, nigh correct?

Time will tell whether American's buy the snake oil of the Democrats or the Republicans, but one has to applaud the process this time around for making two of the top four spots something different!

If you missed it...the NEXT first lady!!

Michelle Obama ROCKS!

Classic video...

I just randomly ran across this and haven't seen it in years, but love the song and the video:

Pearl Jam, Do The Evolution'

Happy Birthday Boss Man

OK, I know it's not until tomorrow, but technically tomorrow is only 1 hour away. Anyhow, just thought I'd send a shout out to Mannie to wish him a happy birthday!! Make those lab members take you somewhere good for lunch:) Enjoy and have a great day!

60's TV still has value

Here's an episode from Star Trek (the original series) called "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" that every American who might vote for McCain this fall just because of race should watch. It's a classic episode as powerful today as when it was first aired:


Watch CBS Videos Online

One can hear the crickets chirping...ANYONE out there?

Well I guess I'll join B in questioning of any Liscum Lab members (present or former) aside from he and I ever use the Internet? The blog has been he and I having private little conversations and jabs at each other for too long now. Time for some new voices, hell even a comment. Come on Jo I know you get emails when a new post goes up...Renee has an excuse (I read her blog so I know!).

On the (good) chance that B is the only one reading this I have another Fu movie recommendation: Furious Slaughter. Another Old Skool Fu flick, this one starring Jimmy Wang Yu (the One-Armed Swordsman himself - although he's neither one armed or a swordsman in this particular movie). This is not an easy flick to find but if you can it's really quite good as 70's Fu goes - the story (and English dub) are good, the lead actor is perfect in this role, and the fights are plentiful and bloody (if not exceptionally fast or wire-fu). I posted a review on my HK Flix page (yes my screen name there is Porky Lo Meng, I'll explain to anyone who wants to know why). If you can't find this one and still want a decent Fu flick ( or a more modern one) try "Transporter 2" - very good action, and from a non-Asian dude!

NEW - 2008 Lab T-shirt

Hey the 2008 Liscum Lab T-Shirt is ready to go to the printers. We need a head count (#'s and sizes) for anyone who wants one this week. Like to place the order by Fri 13 June.

If you want to see the design go to link Liscum Lab '08. We thought this design might appeal to not only the current members but some of our previous members!

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting...another movie recommendation

OK, I'm clearly locked in a Fu mood lately so I've got another movie recommendation for ya'll that is in the Fu genre. This one is great for a whole set of reasons that aren't in common (generally) with my most recent recommendation - Jet Li's "Hero". The current recommendation, "Contour", is NOT a cinematic masterpiece - hell it's not even up to the quality of Ron Widbin's Rockbridge/Hickman produced stuff on the Columbia public school channel - nor is the acting high quality (again think high school plays)...BUT, it kicks Hero to the curb for pure adrenaline-charged nearly constant kick arse Fu action!! This is some of the most impressive Fu action I've seen in years.

"Contour" was made by a bunch of martial artists and stunt people who call themselves simply: The Stunt People. These are some crazy, but VERY talented mo-fo's. Anyhow, these guys & dolls have been making Martial Arts/Fu/Action shorts for some time now and in 2006-07 produced and released their first full-length feature film - "Contour". Eric Jacobus, one of the founders of The Stunt People, wrote, directed and starred in "Contour". For those of you who know of Ed Wood Jr and his films there is some similarity between Contour and Wood films in there shoestrng budgets, poor acting and horrible scripts - but that's where the similarities end. If Wood could kick arse like Jacobus he'd not be simply remembered as the Worst Director of all time but the Worse Director of all time that no one would dare tell that to for fear of getting their head crushed. Anyhow, "Contour's" plot is thin at best - hell I can't rightly tell you what the plot is - but it's Ok since the plot and character developments are just means to connect the various awesome fight scenes. This movie is one fight to the next, with many lasting so long one will get tired just watching these guys/girls beat eachother relentlessly. The fight scene near the end of the movie is nearly 20 minutes in length and is a masterpiece. Nevermind that all the characters in the movie are played by a handful of people (they wear masks of various types, many times causing me to laugh out loud at how stupid it all looks, to shield that they are in fact the same guys/girls); the entire budget of the movie (~$5000) was likely spent on water (for obvious rehydration), food, and medical bills [there is no way it was spent on much more]; and that NO ONE in the cast can act (Jacobus is a pretty decent Fu version of Bruce Campbell - even looks a little like him) - this is simply a tour de force of Fu action. You will wince 30-30 times I gaurantee! The DVD also has a docu on the making of "Contour" and The Stunt People, as well as several shorts and training pieces - all quite amazing. I highly recommend it - but don't expect great (or even good...mark that decent) cinema, you need to watch this knowing it's low budget for film, but as high a 'budget' for action as anything out there.

See some reviews of "Contour" at HK Flix

Search out this movie for rental...B has my copy so maybe he'll respond to this post after he watches it?

Movie Recommendation

If you haven't seen the Jet Li movie "Hero" - SEE IT!!! It's not simply a kung fu or action movie. In fact, while the fight scenes are impressive - well except the one that got so much hype in the HK Fan circles between Li and Donnie Yen (this one is OK but not as great as I expected) - they are not the anchor of the Film. Note that I used Film with a capital F - this is fine cinema. The director, Zhang Yimou, is a veteran HK director who specializes in highly stylized dramas. He didn't skimp on his stylized vision with "Hero". WOW! The cinematography is stunning, the sets and action choreography are intertwined with the camera work to produce simple beautiful images. Yimou's use of color and backgrounds is breathtaking. Three examples stand out: 1) the 'red' fight between Maggie Cheung (aka, Flying Snow) and up-and-coming starlet Ziyi Zhang (aka, Moon) in the leaves; 2) the 'green' fight between Tony Leung (aka, Broken Sword) and Daoming Chen (aka, the King) in the palace; and 3) the 'blue' fight between Leung and Li (aka, Nameless) over the mountain lake. If you are an old skool Fu fan (like myself) be aware that this movie is 'wire-fu' all out, but it's done well. I felt the 'wire-fu' in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was a bit too much, but in "Hero" it was more tolerable, and in large part this was due to Yimou's asthetic senses. "Hero" is a great story, told well through both dialog and visuals. This is a movie that both Fu fans and non Fu fans can enjoy. Watch it with or without the English dub (which is quite well done), but watch it - really watch it. You will be impressed. HK cinema kicks Hollywood to the curb!

Cool seminar...

As an academic and science geek I go to many seminars (although fewer now that I'm the "manny" for my kids afer school), but tonight I had the pleasure of attended a really different but thoroughly enjoyable seminar (at it was for me). No not scientific in any way, rather it satified my love for Second World War history; Sir Ian Kershaw was on campus to give a lecture on 'How and Why the Nazi's Fought on to the Bitter End'. Kershaw is a renowned historian/author who is a Professor in Sheffeld UK. His talk was truly captivating (again for me) and I guess all my reading has been doing some good because I wasn't at all lost in the mix of dates, personalities, political discussions, etc. I found it quite intellectually stimulating. Here's hoping MU gets a few more greats like Kershaw in the near future (apparently he has a friend at MU and has been here before a couple times - although I suspect he is also attending the WWII Conference at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans 10-12 April - I wish I could go!!).

The 80's DID rock, but now it's officially dead!

Well I heard from a Wisconsinite today that today is a 'sad day' because Brett Favre retired, but I think there is sadder news today - Gary Gygax passed away. Who? you say...Gary Gygax...he created Dungeons & Dragons! Yes I was an 80's kid who was into D&D - frankly few kids weren't unless they were REALLY geeks. Gygax was THE man of the 80's and with his passing I think we can say D&D has officially passed too.

So, now how sad will the day be? Will Texas and Ohio finalize the Democratic side of the 08 election equation? Hope so but not likely - I think this will drag out for some time...giving the Elephants more ammo and time. Sitting at dance right now and can't wait to get home to Chris Mathews' and Keith Obberman's coverage on MSMBC.

Change is a coming...