February 27, 2004
Hope
The FDA's approval of Avastin is great news for those stricken with cancer. The drug works by cutting off the blood supply to cancerous tumors, essentially starving them to death. Because tumors are inherently unstable, they are constantly rebuilding the capillaries that feed them. This drug prevents it.
I once attended a talk by Judah Folkman, the scientist behind this drug, given to a nuch of ENT residents. During the talk, he discussed their animal model experiments - they grew these large tumors onto the back of lab mice and then treated the mice with their drug. The results were startling. These 1/3 mouse size tumors had absolutely disappeared. I only hope that this drug is as effective on humans as it appeared to be on mice.
February 26, 2004
Ha ha
I can't help but laugh at Jeff Jarvis' apoplectic fit over ClearChannel's suspension of the Howard Stern show from their radio station. I think the first comment to his blog post said it best: how can he demand that people keep their comments clean on his site and then demand ClearChannel to allow Stern to do whatever he wants, regardless of the vlugarity? Surely kids are more able to listen to Stern than to read Jarvis.
Admittedly, I'm not a big fan of Howard Stern, but I absolutely detest ClearChannel. The problem is not ClearChannel pulling the plug, it's that the government altered the rules to give ClearChannel the ability to create a radio station empire and broadcast the exact same mind numbing pablum from sea to shining sea.
Told you so
Anyone who thought that Jews were being too sensitive about Gibson's Passion movie can kindly look at the sign below and piss off.
(Via Protocols)
By the way, what's with the invested exclamation point before the word "settled?" Does the church have a large hispanic congregation?
February 23, 2004
Understanding
I do hope that the International Court of Justice at the Hague was paying attention this weekend. If so, it would have learned that 1) the fence is not permanent and 2) why the fence has become necessary.
Of course, I'm sure the ICJ will be far more enlightened by representatives from those fine countries of Saudi Arabia, Cuba, and the Sudan instead.
Political marketplace
I find it amusing that people like Jeff Jarvis, who constantly propound the great benefit of providing what the people want in the media, suddenly become indignant when Ralph Nader decides to run for president and give the people a third option.
Don't get me wrong, I have no love for Nader; I just believe that anyone who worships Howard Stern deserves to be tweaked.
February 20, 2004
Overwhelmed
There's so much going on - Iraq, the Dem. nomination process, gay marriage, etc. etc. that I don't know where to begin. Plus, I've come across a few blog posts that need to be ripped apart. So much to do when unfortunately real life calls - I've got a manuscript to edit and a paper to write for a friend. More blogging on Monday.
In the meantime, go check out Rebecca. She's pretty cute in that photo.
February 19, 2004
Change of state
I have returned from our trip to Italy. Despite spending my time in Italy's fashion capital, Milan, and the jewel of the Veneto region, Venice, I didn't come home with anything... except a fiancée. Yes, Jenny and I are engaged. Although I am very happy, I still find it odd to hear the words "my fianceée" coming from my mouth.
February 11, 2004
Away until next week
Jenny and I off to Milan and then Venice tomorrow until next Wednesday, so no blogging until then.
May the world be boring until I get back.
February 10, 2004
Inconceivable!
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
(Try this one instead.)
Old
Congrats to Pej on his second blogiversary. I remember when he was just a fledgling blogger taking on the likes of the disciples of Chomsky...and now look at him. Of course, this makes me feel old in blog years as this blog's two year anniversary was actually in December. Oh how the not so mighty have fallen.
Ghastly Gulf
It's been a deadly day in the Persian Gulf. First an Iranian jetliner crashes in the UAE, killing 43, and now yet another car bomb has exploded at a Baghdad police station, killing at least 50. I'm sure John Pilger is proud
February 05, 2004
Pseudoblogging
This Salon article about anonymous (or more accurately, pseudonymous) blogging has once again elicited comments from not a few bloggers.
I’ve discussed this before in one fashion or another, but since it’s au currant once again, I’ll share a couple of thoughts:
1. I generally don’t have a problem with anonymous or pseudonymous bloggers. The freedom accorded to such bloggers often allows them to cobble together worthwhile posts that they otherwise might have been afraid to publish under their real names.
2. Yglesias’ argument is disingenuous, to put it kindly. The use of a pseudonym does not protect a blogger from criticism, but it does immunize said blogger from any consequences of what he/she wrote. Keep in mind that Gregg Easterbrook would still have his TMQ gig over at ESPN had he not attached his name to what he wrote.
3. As far as I’m concerned, a pseudonymous blogger has descended into hypocrisy when he/she starts demanding that other bloggers put their money where their mouths are. This has been the case for Atrios and his mini-me, Hesiod, who have spent the better part of the last year or so labeling any pro-war blogger that had not joined the military as a chickenblogger. A blogger who refuses to stake his reputation on what he writes has no place launching such epithets, no matter how much they fear those dangerous “Bush fedayeen” and Luskins of Mass Destruction.
February 02, 2004
No Jews in Gaza
"I am working on the assumption that in the future there will be no Jews in Gaza." - Ariel Sharon. It was inevitable, and from a practical point of view it makes sense - there's no reason for Israelis to be living in that rathole. On the other hand, it's troubling that practically no one finds the idea of a forced Jew-free area to be troubling.
In the end, it remains to be seen if Sharon truly means what he says, AND if he can actually pull it off. Just one more twist in an already twisted situation.
Meanwhile...
We shouldn't forget these guys who are stuck in Iraq watching the Superbowl.
This means you, you idiots.
Super Bowl wrap up
I think the NFL should require the Patriots to be in every Super Bowl since they seem to have a flair for the dramatic. 32-29...who knew? I sure didn't (see the post below), although I did say that people had underestimated Carolina. In the end, it came down to the kickers. Kasay spotted the Pats a good 20 yards by shanking the kickoff out of bounds and Vinatieri redeemed himself with that last second field goal. He must feel relieved knowing that his commerical spots for every local retailer in the metro Boston area are safe.
With that here are my game awards:
- MVP: The Pats receiver corps. I know Brady got them the ball, but all three receivers, Brown, Branch, and Givens, got open all night and held on to just about everything thrown at them. The Panthers' receivers were just as good, and had they won, they probably would have gotten this award.
- Goat: John Kasay This may be a bit unfair, but you cannot send the kickoff out of bounds with 1:08 left in the Super Bowl. He basically spotted the Patriots at least 20 yards and made it a lot easier them to get into field goal range.
- Best play: Mushin Muhammad's 85 yard catch. The play was a thing of beauty. Delhomme improvised and threw a perfect pass. It doesn't get much prettier than that.
- Best play runner up: Vrabel's TD catch. That was like a flag football league play - run a crossing pattern so that two defenders collide and leave the receiver open. So basic, yet so effective.
- Worst play: the half time show Justin Timberlake playing "Free Boobie" with Janet Jackson wasn't particularly shocking or racy in my opinion; hell the cheerleader outfits are more suggestive than her pasty covered boob. But that stunt, like the whole show, was just...lame. Janet Jackson "singing" songs from 10-15 years ago? P. Diddy badly lip synching songs that people have done their best to forget? Kid Rock?? This was the best that MTV could come up with? The NFL should ban MTV from producing another halftime show - because it just plain sucked.
Oh, and by the way, I don't believe for a second that the boob expose was an "accident," unless of course Janet Jackson typically wears pasties because these sorts of situations happen regularly.
- Best commercial: The Lays potato chip commerical. Entirely tastless, but watching those that old couple beat each other to get a bag of Lays had me rolling. Overall however, the commericals were disappointing. If I had paid $2 million a pop for those, I'd be asking for my money back.