Never Discuss Religion or Politics

So I'm breaking both parts of this rule. The stem cell research opponents are really starting to be shown for the Luddites they are. First Nancy Reagan comes out in favor of the research. Then we start hearing reports of a Brazilian woman able to walk after a brain hemmorrhage. The Korean woman made an even bigger splash since she's been paralyzed for nearly 20 years. Hell, they've even figured out how to regrow teeth!

I've got bad teeth. I've never had good teeth and even with regular hygiene I still can't get a cleaning done without finding a cavity. I'm sure my diet and genetics and such play into this, but hey - if there's a chance I can get a new set of chompers, I'm all for it. I've always felt teeth were a weird evolutionary pattern anyway. Why is something that's so important to one's health and welfare irreplaceable? You'd think Darwin's invisible hand (love the mixed metaphor, don't you?) could come up with something a little more useful.

On a more serious note, my step-father had an accident in April of this year and suffered a spinal cord injury. Initially he was paralyzed from the neck down and there was doubt he'd walk again. He's had surgery to insert pins in his vertebrae. He went through inpatient and outpatient physical therapy to learn everything from rolling over in bed to sitting, standing and finally walking with the help of canes. He still has problems with his hands (he used to play guitar, mandoline, balalaika, any stringed/fretted instrument, really). If stem-cell therapy could help him regain his lost abilities.... Well, I think that speaks for itself.

Looking back over this post, I suppose I really didn't discuss religion or politics. Good thing, too.

Oh, you can read about my step-father's progress here.

Geek: Calendar

I built one of these for my office desk:

12-sided Calendar

I just printed it on regular paper, though. I'm going to re-print it on heavier stock and make it more stable.

Overture

So. I'm finally starting a blog. I feel special now.

Technically, I created this account for the sole purpose of posting a "Howdy!" comment on John Roger's blog. I'll go ahead and cop to my geekdom: I play role playing games (RPGs). That's Dungeons & Dragons to those of you who are too cool for me. John is also a gamer and has written up accounts of his games over at ENWorld. I've posted back and forth with him a few times (when he's not busy writing movie scripts) and saw over on Warren Ellis' site that John was starting up a blog. Naturally, I had to do right by the stalker-fan inside me (seeing as how John is my closest brush with fame other than dancing on stage with Morris Day and the Time) and track him down. Not to mention bug him into updating his story hour.

So it begins. We'll see how far it goes.