Moving Europa

To me, the decoding of the Platypus Genome coming out in Nature this week is uber cool. It’s one of those slap yourself why didn’t I think of this moments. From the NY Times review of the research:

In their investigation of the platypus genetic blueprint, the scientists found that its genome contains about 18,500 genes, similar to other vertebrates and about two-thirds the size of the human genome. The platypus shares 82 percent of its genes with the human, mouse, dog, opossum and chicken. Some repeated elements in the genome, the scientists noted, hold hints as to the chronology of changes in the platypus.

In other words, the genome is everything you would expect from an evolutionary perspective. This work is also reviewed on the BBC and you can see a great video on the Nature web site.

In the “if it bleeds it leads” style of journalism, the shark attack in Solana Beach that killed retired veterinarian David Martin was featured on all of the major news networks last week. Why? It’s a local story and doesn’t merit coverage on national news.

As it happens, I knew this guy. When I first moved to San Diego he was a vet in the practice where I took my two cats and then my two dogs. He was a pretty man who wore extremely expensive cowboy boots. He was also totally detached from his work. When I brought my animals in it was always my hope I wouldn’t have to see him. Perhaps he was already in retirement mode and counting the days but my overall impression was that he didn’t care. I’m sure others will probably say just the opposite. I don’t think you can build the successful practice that they had without either caring or doing a good job of pretending to care. I didn’t see either from this guy. I saw a very pretty face with very expensive tastes. I hope the shark appreciated the meal.

Once upon a time, a wacko claimed stigmata. He was examined by doctors and it was determined that the marks on his hands were chemical burns. People desperate to believe with minds muddled by magical thinking ignored this and decided Padre Pio was some sort of holy sumthin’ or other. The stupidity continues today. From Reuters:

Padre Pio’s body was exhumed from a crypt on March 3 and found to be in “fair condition” after 40 years. Since then, a team of medical examiners and biochemists has been hard at work preserving and reconstructing the body for display.

Its condition at the end of their work has been a closely guarded secret. Monks who have seen it were under orders not to talk to the media before it goes on display on Thursday at about 1 p.m. (7 a.m. EDT) after an outdoor Mass expected to be attended by at least 15,000 people.

About 750,000 people from around the world, mostly from Italy, have made reservations to view the body up to the end of December, according to church officials. About 7,200 people a day will file past the glass coffin.

Pio’s refurbished corpse will be a sure money-maker. Tinkets, cards, photos, relics, etc, will all be available for purchase. Isn’t it special. You can do this, too, with a little caustic and a little flesh.

The previous inconsequential “mash cone” post is bringing in hundreds of pageviews per hour. Who woulda’ thought? I’ve been joking with a couple of friends that I should post something about sex and mash cones but I think that would be to obvious. I’ve decided on the following instead:

Aunt Bessie’s Mash Cone Revealed

The blog-o-sphere was shaken yesterday with reports of a new British Food trend; Aunt Bessie’s Mash Cone. The repulsive treat, a scoop of mashed potato in an ice cream cone soaked in gravy and topped with peas and a glistening stick of sausage, however, was not actually meant to be eaten. It was an art project from the recently completed ArtFest 2008 in Port Townsend, WA. The mixed media event is a pacific northwest tradition enthusiastically attended by hundreds of women and a few men every year. The teacher of the “mash cone class” commented that the idea of the Dada-esque creation came to her while coordinating rides for her son’s soccer league. After many attempts with a variety of media she settled on two raw materials; Jimmy Dean Sausage and Swanson TV dinners. She went on to say that the mashed potato from the latter had a consistency that was perfect for her assemblage.

Seriously, here is a picture of Aunt Bessie’s Mash Van. Check out the slogan: “Nice and Creamy, Warm and Dreamy.”

Sausage, mashed potato, gravy and peas on a cone is disgusting. This seems to be the spring food treat in the UK.

From the NY Times, CEO compensation for 2007:

John A. Thain - $83,785,021 - Merrill Lynch

Lawrence J. Ellison - $61,180,524 - Oracle

Lloyd C. Blankfein - $53,965,418 - Goldman Sachs Group

Kenneth I. Chenault - $50,126,585 - American Express

John J. Mack - $41,399,010 - Morgan Stanley

Ray R. Irani - $33,624,909 - Occidental Petroleum

Daniel R. Hesse - $29,455,746 - Sprint Nextel

Miles D. White - $28,955,662 - Abbott Laboratories

Robert A. Iger - $27,665,413 - Walt Disney

Alan G. Lafley - $26,835,350 - Procter & Gamble

Someone left a strange comment on the previous turpitude post. It wasn’t an off the cuff comment but a long carefully written comment full of links to pages supporting the text. The IP address traced to High Wycombe which has little meaning to me except a company I worked for once upon a time bought something there, closed it down and generally messed with the folks working there. Methinks that Sebastian or one of his publishing minions is searching the web for anything about “moral turpitude” and posting the same comment. You can’t blame them. It’s great press to help sell books.

The morality police in the US of A are at it again. You know who they are? They’re like the religious police in Saudi Arabia. This week they barred Sebastian Horsley from entering the country for a book tour for “moral turpitude.” From the CBC:

British writer Sebastian Horsley has been denied entry to the U.S. upon arriving at Newark Liberty International Airport to promote Dandy in the Underworld, his memoir of sex and drugs.

The flamboyant, 45-year-old author said Thursday that he was refused entry on grounds of “moral terpitude,” after being questioned for eight hours by border officials at the New Jersey airport.

“They knew more about me than I did,” Horsley said from his London home. “They said, ‘We know you’re a heroin addict, we know you’re a crack addict, we know you’re involved in prostitution.’”

Dandy in the Underworld details Horsley’s years in the demi-monde of drugs and prostitutes, and his own heavy drug use. It was published in Britain last year by Sceptre, an imprint of Hodder Headline, to good reviews. The Independent newspaper said the book “entertains as much as it revolts, is as tender as it is shocking.”

If this is the way the Dept. of Homeland Security is going to protect our borders, I’m all for it as long as they apply the same policy to everyone trying to enter our country. This seems like our best chance to keep Dick Cheney from re-entering the USA. If anyone is guilty of “moral turpitude”, it’s Dick “Eagle Eye” Cheney.

“The causes were complex. They included a public panic to cash in paper currency for gold, a subsequent depletion in the country’s gold reserve and bankers calling in their loans to private industry as the value of the dollar continued to decline.”

Sound familiar?