Watching the news tonight I saw...

a story which involved President Obama signing an executive order that will open up federal funding for stem cell research. Now this is as controversial as a topic as abortion. But when it comes to stem cells there is an affect on far more people. For when it comes to stem cell research the possibilities are endless. Without getting far to technical let me make an attempt at telling you what are stem cells. But to understand the controversy all you have to do is ask one simple question.

First understand that there are mainly two types of stem cells. Adult stem cells at as sort of an repair system for the body while helping the normal turnover of cells in certain parts of the body. These cells are very specialized for that part of the body so they are very limited in their capabilities. An example is bone marrow transplants, it is usually adult stem cells that are transplanted where they multiply and order to help cure the ailment. Very non-controversial because there are no embryos involved nor is the patient in danger because of the testing involved in matching.

Embryonic stem cells are...well...let's just start from the beginning...the very beginning. Most of us know that after conception the fertilized egg divides two-by-two-by-two and so on. What makes this so special is that these new cells are not specialized. This means that you cannot call them anything specific (heart cells, blood cells, nervous cells, etc.) that are just embryonic cells. Four to five days after conception this mass of cells is called a blastocyst. It is soon following that where differentiation comes. This is where each cell, in no lesser terms, gets their assignment and turns into something. Then that embryo becomes a fetus and so on and so forth.

What scientist wanted to do is take those non-differentiated cells and be able to give them their assignment. If successful we will be able to grow new cells to help aid and hopefully heal what some consider tramatic ailments. Think about it. What if you can grow new brain cells that can be implanted into a patient with parkinson's disease or alzheimer's? Being able to regenerate nervous cells that can be placed into someone that has suffered a spinal cord injury. You could one day (possibly not in our lifetime but it's nice to dream) create your own organs. Maybe down the road if you were to suffer kidney failure and needed a transplant. Take some stem cells then slap in your DNA from your kidney in a dish, simmer and stir, then viola a new kidney!! Freshly made to order like Subway sandwich.

Here's the question that starts the argument: When do YOU believe life begins?

Depending upon your answer places you somewhere on the polictical seesaw that quabbles over whether stem cell research should or should not be allowed. If you believe that life starts at conception then you lie on the far right. From your prespective stem cell research is more immoral then unneeded for society. There is a very good chance that say that you cannot disrupt God's work and to do so would be against God's law. Nothing wrong with that view. It clearly shows a belief in a higher power that drives everything in our lives. There has to be a higher power involved in one way or another due to the fact I have yet to hear a legitimate reason as to what factors make what cells in the blastocyst. If you say that life begins at birth then you lay on the left side of the argument. You say that research is needed to help the ills of society for eveyone deserve to live a ailment free life as much as possible. You feel that if God gave humans the ability to think on a higher level than other species then humans should be able use that intelligence to better there society. Just as good of an argument. You still believe in a higher power but your a little more liberal in your interpretation. Most of us lie someone in between and some change our views dependent on what is happening in our lives. Oh and myself, I believe that life begins once the heart begins to beat. Without getting to technical, in order to have a heartbeat there must be brain activity. You cannot have one without the other. It is just scientifically impossible. With that happening you will have your two most important organs functioning and everything else goes from there. So I feel that there can be stem cell research for the good of society.

Now other than abortion, stem cell research is as much of a fire starter as any argument you could find. If you are a radio talk show host and the content is getting dull and boring then open up either on eof these two arguments and watch the phone lines light up.

What's your opinion???

So I hear that Jack Cafferty of CNN...

has a crush on Michelle Obama. Well Jack join the club!!! There are no dues and we will meet on the internet on a predetermined date. I voted for Obama in November on the belief that he will and is currently trying to bring about a change that is so surely needed after the hell we just went through. A bad war fought over false pretenses and a form of constitutional dictatorship that seems to have violated millions of peoples rights with no regard to the bill of rights. Backroom deals along with backstabbing acts that causes some to try and invoke executive privilege in the hopes of slithering out of town untouched. We the people needed something better so we can hold these truths to be self-evident. What if Congress did not pass the 22ND amendment in 1947 and the states ratify it in 1951? Think of the possibilities. Just the shear thought of Bush even considering running for a third term; what would his platform be? How would he be received at the convention? But enough with dreaming...

January 20th 2009 is one of the greatest days in American history. Hell, over the past fifty years, it may be one of the greatest days in world history. What came from that day is an almost complete 180 shift from what we had been going through for the better part of a decade. To see that type of man take the oath of office after running that type of campaign is a sight that I will surely remember for the rest of my life. We as a people needed this. It was the fresh air that comes into a stagnant room an a spring day once you open the window. Every generation has a moment in time either good or bad (mostly bad) that is defining to them decades from now. Pearl Harbor, Bombing of Japan, Kennedy Assassination, MLK Assassination, Watergate, Challenger, Oklahoma City, and 9/11 are all of those generational stamps that when you ask someone that lived during that time they remember exactly when, where, and what. I was with my dad watching it on TV while my sister was freezing on the Mall and my mom was at work.

President Obama carries with him the hopes and dreams of millions of people that saw from where we have came and were afraid of where we were going. It is a new day in America. But this man shows what America is all about. The land where truly it is possible for someone with good intentions, clear path, focus, and determination can become whatever they want to be. Now if he succeeds or fails only time will tell. But at least to be given the opportunity says more about this country than anything else.

Remember "Life, Liberty, and the PURSUIT of happiness"

It all starts while watching Family Guy....

...some of you may know the episode where Brian gets the radio show which is eventually called "Dingo and the Baby" after Stewie gets to be co-host. It all got my thinking about Rush Limbaugh, well not just Rush, but most of these so-called pundits (mostly Rush though). People that try to persuade public opinion either to the right with Bill O'Riley or the left with Keith Olberman (maybe the middle "allegedly" according to Lou Dobbs) with an hour or two of information-laced personal opinion. I mean most of these people are very well educated in their fields which have over the years helped formulate these views.

But doesn't it seem that maybe, just maybe, it's getting to be more of an infomercial for his/her version of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. The big initial advertisement of the problem (the government/country is going to hell in a hand basket), then there is the explanation of the solution (change and/or criticize leaders in a seven minute block). Finally there is the "BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!!!" moment which is that top story which makes you stick around through all those smaller segments. It's like a fancy Shamwow segment.

I guess it is the craziness which makes are Democracy so great. Just the good fortune of living in a country that allows for such contrast of opinions and yet we are able to listen and choose between the them without the threat of imprisonment or worse.

God Bless America!!!!