Kathryn Jean Lopez is a bit concerned about the reaction she got after posting this Wall Street Journal article about a fertility clinic that says it will soon be able to screen for physical traits pre-implantation.

They're not just talking about about diseases and disorders anymore, but selection for things like eye color, height, athleticism, and intelligence. Even if this clinic's claims are untrue (and there is some conjecture that they've gotten ahead of themselves) there is every reason to believe that it will be possible to do this at some point in the near future.

As I said, K-Lo is not happy about it:

Well, here's a sign of the times: I've been surprised by the number of e-mails I've received today from people who read that WSJ article on cosmetic genetics and responded to it by asking, "So what"? Basically: If my kid might not have a disease because of some genetic work, bring it on. The cosmetic stuff might be a little creepy, but it's not like you're going to stop it. Eugenics? Limits? Human Dignity? Our inability to even rouse the energy to raise questions is more than a little chilling.

First, "bring it on" is exactly right. If parents have it within their means to free their child from a genetic disorder, I'd be furious if they did not. That doesn't mean that individuals who suffer from genetic disorders cannot have meaningful lives. It just means that if I had my druthers, no one would have to face the challenges they face. Certainly, if I were presented with two options: Child A, with a genetic illness; or Child B, disease-free, I know which way I would go without hesitation.

Second, I confess that I have trouble seeing why cosmetic genetics is "a little creepy." You cut your child's hair and fingernails, don't you? Why isn't that considered an affront to his or her personal integrity? I'll tell you, it's because humans have been making that particular cosmetic change for centuries. Also, the change isn't even skin deep.

But that's not where it stops. We almost routinely exchange blood and organs -- sometimes even for artificial substitutes! -- without considering the alteration an assault on personal integrity. People are wandering around out there with other people's guts in them! And it's okay, justified perhaps because such things are necessary to improve a person's quality of life. Even where surgical augmentation is not medically necessary (*cough*boobies*cough*), objections to the procedure are based on the vanity of the patient, not some affront to innate personal integrity.

What is it about K-Lo's "human dignity" that requires us to roll the dice when we chose to have a child? I suspect that part of the objection isn't directed at the innocent child whose human dignity has been compromised, but rather at the vain parents. And that's the true objection to cosmetic genetics (similar to the objection to cosmetic surgery): people who would be so vain as to want and so vulgar as to actually get their perfect "designer baby."

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 05:49 AM | Comments (193)
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FNC is saying 49 fatalities so far. Updates as more info. comes in.

More: Benson and Hmmm provide some more info. in the comments, which I'll tack on up here as a common repository. What we know so far:

It was Continental Flight 3407 (operated under Colgan Air), from Newark to Buffalo (a commuter flight). A 74-seat Bombardier Q-400.

It crashed into a home in Clarence Center, NY (a Buffalo suburb) at around 10:10 p.m. (Eastern time), on Long Road (or Street)

Some contact numbers:

1 800 621-3263 (the number for families) (FNC is saying the last 4 digits are 3236) Update: FNC is wrong...it's the first number.
713 324-5080 (number for the media to call)
716 741-8930 (number for Clarence residents only)

One person on the ground killed and others injured.

Local live coverage: here. (WIVB - local CBS affiliate)

Recording of ATC communication is here. (Thanks to Doc for the link)

Non-Update Update: Kudos to everyone who put up links early on when this was breaking. If you have any info. you think might be worth adding to the main post please post it in the comments, send it to xgenghisx@gmail.com or both. If you had a relative or friend on the flight, my condolences. If possible, please keep the off topic comments out of this thread. Just seems disrespectful. Maybe post them in the "Top Headlines" comments tonight. Thanks.

Posted by: Open Blog at 08:39 PM | Comments (136)
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We'll have the usual Battlestar Galactica discussion thread and recap post later, but to hold you 'til then, Robert Farley at Lawyers, Guns and Money has a provocative letter from a "Concerned Colonial Citizen":

I oppose permanent alliance with the Cylon, and believe that Vice President Zarek and Lieutenant Gaeta were correct to resist the Adama-Roslin military-political clique. Here is why:

As you probably could tell from my recap last week, I think Concerned Colonial Citizen has a good point. Click over for the whole thing and be sure to read on into the comments. Watch out if you haven't seen last week's episode yet; it has spoilers for you.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 06:40 AM | Comments (45)
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Reagan-era Census Bureau Director Bruce Chapman explains the giant pile of dog shit the President just stepped in:

But the legal issues will remain even if a willing partisan is nominated and confirmed as Commerce Secretary. There is a 1999 Supreme Court ruling that would make sampling-based adjustment difficult in the absence of compelling evidence that the customary hard count would be less credible. And that evidence not only is lacking, but a three year statistical study that was finished in 2003 to respond to this issue concluded just the opposite: adjusting the Census numbers through sampling and computer models could lead to a less credible Census result. A hard count has always been legally defensible. A fuzzy "adjusted" Census--where figures at the Census tract and block level would be demonstrably erroneous in many cases--could invite endless litigation and bad will.

Another problem for the Obama White House if it wants to change the Census approach: planning for the 2010 Census has been underway for years and now is in preparation for testing. The disruptions caused by an Administration decision to change those plans would cause great problems and probably agitate the resistance of career statisticians charged with responsibility for conducting the Census.

Finally, one wonders if the President understands that the Census is a function of government that requires not only integrity in fact but also the appearance of integrity. The reputation of the Census should not be compromised. It is hard enough to get people to cooperate in the conduct of the Census without creating a reputation for politicization.

There is an echo here from the presidential debates. Senator McCain kept saying "What my colleague from Illinois doesn't understand is..." and variations thereof about everything from the economy to the war in Georgia. During one debate Obama became visibly annoyed that anyone would think or imply that he is ignorant.

But it's a legitimate question. Does the president have any idea what he is doing and why is he acting this way? It's entirely possible, from what I've seen, that he doesn't. At the beginning, I suppose we could just put it down to Bambi shakily finding his feet. But the President claims to have been preparing the transition for months. The transition is over, he's in power, now it's time to lead.

I'll tell you what his problem has always been. He has no vision of his own, so he's just getting jerked around by everyone who's got his ear. That's why he keeps nominating folks without vetting them. Because he's been told to. That's why he wanted to have the Census Bureau Director report to the White House. Minority groups with Emanuel's phone number complained, so he did what he was told.

Will the President ever grow up and actually take power? Would we even want him to?

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 09:38 AM | Comments (108)
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Incredible. Artsy types are looking for their next handout and Senator Schumer is ready to give it to them:

The original version of the package was arts friendly, with the House version containing $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts. But when the bill started receiving criticism, the Senate removed the NEA money from its version.

Then it went a step further, passing an amendment on February 6 declaring that no stimulus money could be used for "any casino or other gambling establishment, aquarium, zoo, golf course, swimming pool, stadium, community park, museum, theater, arts center, or highway-beautification project." Schumer voted for the amendment, and, though his vote was not the deciding one, the city's arts institutions and cultural groups, already hurting from reduced state and city funding, aren't happy.unable to support themselves, started whinging (again).

FTFY.

Schumer promptly responded through a spokesperson that he had no idea what he was doing and please don't ban him from the Met, he simply must see Racette's Cio-Cio-San in Madam Butterfly this season.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 05:59 AM | Comments (19)
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The depressing editorial which accompanied that graphic is here.

What can we do now? Smoke 'em if you got 'em. I'll try and come up with something more constructive later.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 06:15 PM | Comments (205)
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Need some perking up? This looks like a horrible movie, but it is all about the AOSHQ lifestyle. NSFW, very bad, insulting red band trailer below: more...

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 04:38 PM | Comments (85)
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Breaking at CNN now, no link.

Drudge has the statement:

“I want to thank the President for nominating me to serve in his Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. This was a great honor, and I had felt that I could bring some views and ideas that would assist him in governing during this difficult time. I especially admire his willingness to reach across the aisle.

“However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me. Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.

“Obviously the President requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives.

Also, since no one was formally appointed to his seat, he is still a senator from New Hampshire. Bonus.

Update - Top story at CNN? "Iraq's dogs poisoned, then gunned down." Way to stay on top of the game, guys.

Posted by: Slublog at 12:19 PM | Comments (406)
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As I'm heading to Beirut in an hour or so, and will be on a plane or in airports for 15 hours, I'm not going to be around. I don't know if I'll be around tomorrow, due to jet lag or the events they have scheduled.

I'm going to blog as I can during this, so I won't be completely gone. I hope. I'm not sure how the internet is going to be over there.

Oh, since you gave me suggestions for books. I was at a crappy Borders and their selection wasn't great. Those that I found were: Deep Survival, The Monster of Florence, and a lot of the mysteries recommended. Three of the Charlie Parker books (the supernatural edge interested me), three of the Alan Furst ones, one of the Harlan Coben (?) books, Michael Marshall's The Intruders, one or two of Michael Connelly's. I think a couple more I've forgotten. I bought $150 in books. My brother suggested to buy several more books than I could conceivably read.

I didn't pick up the histories suggested, partly because I'm going to be reading Thomas Friedman's From Beirut to Jerusalem, a history/tour of the country, and figured I needed counter-programming.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Looking forward to them.

Posted by: Ace at 10:12 AM | Comments (157)
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Millions of working families can breathe easy now.

That extra $13 a week in my paycheck is going to make a huge difference in my standard of living. Think about the possibilities - I can turn the thermostat up to Oval Office temperatures, go out to eat at Quiznos instead of Subway...heck, I might even switch from domestic beer to import. Oh, I feel faint...

Seriously, though...this is it? This is the tax cut 95% of us were promised? An increase that won't even cover the loss of revenue we're going to face when the Bush tax cuts are repealed?

The Anchoress reminds us of the reaction to the $600 stimulus rebate check from the now-First Lady. Sure, a $600 check wasn't much, but $13 bucks a week isn't going to do much to pay down "every bill every month," either, especially since her husband's policies are sure to increase energy costs and the price of food.

And eventually, we're going to have to pay for this.

Posted by: Slublog at 09:15 AM | Comments (203)
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